Liz Lynne welcomes ban on Mobile Phone companies' extortionate data roaming charges

1.09.15pm GMT Thu 4th Mar 2010

LIb Dem MEPs have campaigned hard for the ban on unfair roaming charges introduced this week

Local LibDem Euro MP Liz Lynne has welcomed a ban on mobile phone users racking up huge Internet roaming charges while using their phones in another EU country.

The cut-off facility, which came into force on Monday 1st March, protects customers incurring more than a single charge of €50 while downloading data on their phones, unless the customer sets a higher limit themselves.

The move follows a long campaign for action by Lib Dem MEPs and consumer groups.

On some mobile phone service plans, Internet roaming charges while in another EU country are very high. One recent case saw a German man faced with a bill of €46,000 for downloading a TV programme onto his phone while he was in France.

Liz Lynne said:

"LibDem MEPs have been warning mobile companies to reduce their costs for customers while abroad for some years now, and our group campaigned for data charges to be included in EU mobile phone roaming regulations.

"This move will mean mobile companies can no longer get away with the outrageous practice of charging excessively for customers to download data and is long overdue.

"It is often not totally obvious how much you are being charged when you use your mobile phone.

"Last year phone companies were forced to reduce the cost of texting from one EU country to another from around 40p to 11p. This cap of €50 on Internet roaming is a triumph for mobile phone users across Europe and shows what the EU can do to help consumers.

"The need for this limit also reflects the growing importance of integrated telecommunications network across Europe. Phone companies such as T-mobile and Orange are merging and more and more phone companies are operating internationally.

"Phone companies must address the need to drive down the cost of international calls and texts or data charges, or they are likely to face further pressure for action from LibDem MEPs and others in the European Parliament."

ENDS