Roaming: No More Nasty Surprises

24 September 2008
by eub2 -- last modified 24 September 2008

Will we soon see the end of unpleasant surprises on mobile bills after travelling abroad? Possibly.

Hi! Am still in Portugal, call too expensiv! Just kwik msg. All doin fine, will call u when back in Bruss. Here attach already some pics of our holidays: in hotel, in pool, fishin - & pics of poss prezzies for ur mum: donkey in wickerwork, porto bottle or embroidery? Cu, luv Joe
 
Total cost? EUR 30 per picture? Does this person expect a bill that might indeed be a nasty surprise? 
 
Will we soon see the end of unpleasant surprises on mobile bills after travelling abroad? Possibly. Thanks to the measures presented today by Commissioners Reding and Kuneva, consumers should have a 2009 summer holiday without such surprises.
 
What is going to change?
 
Voice roaming (receiving or making calls abroad) 
The regulation will be extended until 2013: you automatically get information by SMS on how much roaming costs. Prices between operators and for consumers are capped; the maximum prices will be closer to real costs. Per second billing will be mandatory after the first 30 seconds so you will only pay for the seconds you use. For the moment, you may be billed for a minute even if you speak only for 15 seconds. 
 
SMS roaming (sending or receiving text messages while abroad) 
You will be provided with information on the price of sending SMS while abroad. The maximum price you can be charged per SMS will be 11 cents. This is to be implemented before the 2009 summer holidays. Right now, sending this kind of messages can cost up to 80 cts! 
 
Packet Switched Data Roaming (Internet, MMS, pictures) 
An information message will be sent to you when you start roaming and you will be able to communicate a maximum amount you want to spend (voluntary cut-off scheme). When you are about to reach that amount (for ex EUR 100), you will be informed; passed the maximum amount, your connection gets automatically cut off. This will be in place as of 2010. A limit of EUR 1/MB between operators would be set in 2009. The measures are very much welcome, but, as it does not seem technically feasible to install information and voluntary cut-off schemes more quickly, maximum price limits for consumers should also be imposed to protect us in the meantime, to ensure we stop being overcharged and confronted with 'bill shocks'.
 
"Prices closer to real costs, clear and transparent information before the surprise, no more bill shocks... A little bit of clarification, and a few additional measures add the perfect finishing touches to this positive and rapid proposal. The message now needs to get through to the Parliament and Council." said Monique Goyens, BEUC Director General.

The European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC) was created in 1962 by the consumer organisations of Belgium, Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany. After working together for a number of years, these organisations decided to create a European association, based in Brussels, right at the heart of Community policy. BEUC was a pioneer, one of the first lobbying organisations to set up base in the European capital in a bid to influence the decision-making process.

BEUC - The European Consumers' Organisation