Cingular used to be $2.99 + 1.00 for incoming calls a few years ago... Which was a rip-off. It's still bad now, but a little better.

The other option is to forward your calls you your voice mail box. Turn the phone on in the UK. You will get notification of incoming voice mails left real time. You can then use another phone (e.g. prepay or landline) to check your vm box.

Make sure Cingular customer service has international roaming active on your account. Also be forewarned that at peak times US carriers are notorious for calls to roaming mobiles in Europe NOT going through. Roam elsewhere in the world and it isn't a problem.