A handful of U.K.-based telecommunication operators have agreed to a list of consumer-oriented initiatives designed to dampen the so-called “bill shock” phenomenon of when a customer received unexpected charges on their monthly bill. The agreement was made between the United Kingdom’s Department of Culture, Media & Sport and operators EE, Three, Virgin Media, Vodafone, BT, Sky and Talk Talk.
The initiatives include a cap on bills for phones that are reported lost or stolen; the ceasing of price increases mid-contract; and a commitment to work with the government to eliminate roaming charges within the European Union.
“This agreement with the telecoms companies will deliver real benefits to consumers and help ensure people are not hit with shock bills,” said Culture Secretary Maria Miller in a statement.
U.K. regulator Ofcom has a listing of ways consumers can handle many of these issues on its website.
“We will work with Ofcom and the industry to develop a U.K. government position for ongoing negotiations in the EU that will help us achieve the goal of eliminating roaming charges within the EU by 2016,” the DCMS noted in its agreement. “This will need to be accompanied by appropriate safeguards to prevent abuse and ensure that UK mobile operators are encouraged to continue to invest in their networks.”
The roaming issues is a contentious one across the EU, which earlier this year through the European Commission unveiled its “Connected Continent” plan that is designed to forge a single telecoms market in Europe that simplifies red tape for companies offering wired and wireless broadband, makes the market more attractive for broadband investment and cuts telecom costs for consumers. Among the proposals laid out in the Connected Continent legislative package are:
–EU-wide and roaming-free mobile plans.
–Simpler rules to encourage investment and cross-border expansion.
–EU-wide protection of net neutrality.
–Banning premiums on international phone calls made within Europe.
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