moneysupermarket.com: "rubber-stamping" of EU roaming charges regulation

The “rubber-stamping” of the EU Regulation will, from this summer, result in a cap on mobile roaming charges. The charges will then be reduced further in 2008 and again in 2009.

The regulation will mean an end to extortionate mobile phone bills after a holiday abroad, however Rob Barnes, head of mobiles at moneysupermarket.com, advises caution: “The new deal looks great when you compare it to existing costs of between 55p and 94p, however, the EU seems to have backed down when faced with stiff opposition from UK and European operators.

“The average cost of making a mobile call in the UK is between 3p and 10p per minute when on a contract, yet calling home from another EU state will still be up to 33p per minute.

“Operators have also continually hidden behind the defence of having to pay 'other' European operators to carry calls in the relevant countries. Yet providers such as T Mobile and Deutsche Telekom are the same company, as are Orange and France Telecom. It is about time they are held accountable to mobile users.

"Costs will be forced down further over time but it seems we are a long way from fair call charges throughout Europe. There is also the likelihood that operators will offset reduced European call costs with increases in other areas.”

A recent Europe wide survey stated that 15 per cent of mobile users either choose not to take their phones on holiday at all or to switch them off completely. 21 per cent use only text messages (SMS) while abroad. 64 per cent of people from the United Kingdom say they would use their phones more when abroad if charges were lower, and around 43 per cent of mobile users are still confused as to the prices they pay for making or receiving calls abroad.

“Until new charges come into force I would advise holidaymakers to contact their network before travelling and find out the costs of making and receiving calls whilst abroad.”