Stay updated on UK politics and policy with our free newsletter.
Sign up to receive the myFT Daily Digest, an email that delivers the latest UK politics and policy news straight to your inbox every morning.
The sector’s watchdog, Ofcom, has urged telecoms companies in the UK to inform customers about roaming charges while traveling abroad. This call comes as the regulator emphasizes the need for consistent and clear information to prevent unfair billing practices.
Since Brexit, UK mobile phone users have been subject to roaming fees when making calls, sending texts, and using the internet outside the country, including within the EU. The EU, on the other hand, banned this practice in 2017.
Ofcom revealed on Thursday that consumers should receive alerts from their providers when they start roaming, informing them of the costs involved and suggesting ways to limit charges. Research conducted by Ofcom indicated that one-fifth of holidaymakers were unaware of the potential additional charges when using their mobile devices abroad.
Cristina Luna-Esteban, Ofcom’s director of telecoms consumer protection, explained, “Without clear information from their provider, customers could find themselves facing an unexpected bill for calling home or going online. These alerts would ensure that no matter which mobile provider they are with, customers won’t be left uninformed about roaming charges and the necessary actions to manage their spending.”
This proposal by the regulator, which is open for consultation until September and will be finalized early next year, is part of Ofcom’s efforts to enhance consumer protections amidst rising living costs. The watchdog recently highlighted a lack of understanding among customers regarding inflation-linked in-contract price increases, and accused operators of insufficiently promoting cheaper broadband and phone package options aimed at assisting vulnerable customers.
According to Uswitch, consumers incurred £539 million in unexpected roaming charges over the past year. Ernest Doku, a mobile expert at the price comparison company, voiced support for Ofcom’s proposal, emphasizing the urgency of its implementation before next year’s summer holidays to prevent potential financial hardships for consumers.
Which?, a consumer group, also praised Ofcom’s announcement and urged the UK to seize the opportunity to reduce the cost of roaming for travelers worldwide as it continues to negotiate post-Brexit trade agreements.
In its research, Ofcom discovered that 18 percent of people do not research roaming charges before traveling. Some individuals even experience inadvertent roaming, where their devices connect to networks in different countries despite not physically being present in those countries. This issue particularly affects users in Northern Ireland, with 22 percent reporting roaming onto networks in Ireland last year.
Contact was made with Vodafone, O2, EE, and Three, the four major mobile network operators in the UK, for their input.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
