[andygrif]

I think I can understand the £5 charge (bear in mind that if you're only going on holiday for a couple of weeks, you can add the roaming charge for one month, then have it taken off), as long as the charge covers other networks.

What I am still struggling with is the concept of why I should pay that for taking calls on the o2 network abroad.

International wholesale prices are so cheap, I cannot see (unless there is some sort of anti-competitive rule) why I would be required to pay for something which is as cheap to carry as a call from Lands End to John O' Groats (probably cheaper thinking about it!)