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24|09|08

Text crackdown

Mobile phone companies are facing a fresh crackdown on text and data roaming charges just months after Ofcom warned them to slash prices.

In January Ofcom warned industry it should cut the cost of sending text messages and mobile data from abroad or face action from the European Commission.

Back then a roaming text message sent from Europe cost around 21 pence compared to 5.6 pence for a text sent within the UK.

We also warned that data roaming charges were too high. They are the prices you pay when you use your mobile device to browse the web, send emails or send and receive electronic files when abroad.

European Commission

Now the European Commission has unveiled proposals to cut text charges to a maximum of 11 Euro cents - just under 9p.

The plans would also give customers more information on the costs of data downloads and let them set limits.

The proposals would also ensure clearer, more transparent billing.

Ofcom has continually pushed for roaming charges to come down and welcomes the Commission’s proposals.

We want SMS and data roaming prices to fall and operators to be clearer with consumers about their prices.

Ten tips

The European Parliament will vote on the proposals in the spring and they could become law next summer.

In the meantime, Ofcom has published ten tips on how you can keep your mobile bills down while abroad.

1. Enable your mobile phone: Check with your mobile provider that your phone has been enabled to use abroad. Operators are obliged to provide this information to customers.
2. Check your handset: Check with your mobile provider that your handset will work in the country you are travelling to.
3. Check the prices before you leave: Contact your mobile provider to check your tariff before you travel to help avoid unexpectedly high bills.
4. Ensure you are getting the best deal: Check international packages offered by operators before you travel to ensure you are getting the best deal.
5. The pan European tariff only applies to voice calls: Remember that the pan European tariff (Eurotariff) which has helped to reduce the cost of calls, only applies to voice calls, not to texting and data downloads. It is available from all operators, across most European countries but is not available in Switzerland, Turkey or Croatia.
6. Check your bundles: Don’t assume that the price of calls made abroad are included in your bundled package.
7. Don’t forget voicemail: Remember that calling your voicemail from abroad can cost the same as making a call to the UK – check with your provider if in doubt. Unlike at home, you may be charged every time someone leaves a message on your voicemail . I f you want to avoid these charges, you can switch off your voicemail before you leave the UK.
8. Using mobile internet abroad: Be aware that when connecting to the internet via a mobile handset, dongle or data card (a portable modem which provides internet access via the 3G network) whilst abroad could cost significantly more than when using them at home.
9. The local SIM option: If you are out of the country for a long period time, it could be cheaper to buy a local SIM card that can be used in your handset or a local dongle.
10. Alert your operator immediately if your phone is lost or stolen: If your phone is lost or stolen when you are abroad remember that you could be liable for the cost of the calls made in that country. Make a note of the contact details of your operator before you travel to ensure that you can get in touch with them as soon as possible to report the loss.

Know Your Rights

There are a number of regulations that all mobile phone operators must adhere to which are designed to enable consumers to secure the most appropriate service from their provider.

• Operators are obliged to provide users with clear and up-to-date roaming charges and tariffs, for example through publication on their websites, television adverts or direct mail as well as informing new customers when subscriptions are taken out and existing customers each time there is a change in roaming charges.
• When customers travel between European Union member states, operators must automatically send a free message, which usually comes in the form of a text message, with information on charges for making and receiving calls and provide a free of charge number for obtaining more detailed information.
• Mobile operators must offer a standard ‘Eurotariff’ for those travelling to EU Member States where they can charge no more than 49 euro cents per minute (approximately 38p per minute) to make a call and 24 euro cents per minute (approximately 19p per minute) to receive a call. This has lead to an average reduction in charges of more than 50%.
• The default tariff for most customers is now the Eurotariff but any customers who are on a different tariff can request to switch to or from the Eurotariff at any time and operators must switch the customer within one day.
• Operators must give customers additional information on request and free of charge via text or free phone call on the per-minute or per-unit charges for downloading data and give clear information on the cost of making calls abroad.
• Operators are not obliged to inform customers of any unusual activity on an account. Therefore, if your mobile is lost or stolen it is important to contact your operator as soon as possible. Operators generally refund call costs if a stolen phone is reported lost within 24 hours. However, operators usually do this as a goodwill gesture and are not obliged to do so.

Download this printable guide on using your mobile abroad

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