EU phone users 'still not getting a fair deal'

Some phone operators are trying to “trick” customers over new mobile phone ‘roaming’ charges, it has been claimed.

But there is no evidence that national phone prices have increased, said EU telecommunications commissioner Viviane Reding.

She was speaking in parliament on Tuesday after the publication of a report on how a new law affecting the use of mobile phones is affecting consumers.

Reding said,”You could say I am a happy commissioner because I did what I was asked to do.

“The new law, despite initial misgivings, has turned out to be a real success story.

“It has resulted in the cost of calls being cut by as much as 60 per cent, benefiting an estimated 400 million European consumers.”

However, MEPs taking part in the same conference expressed concern over the behaviour of some phone operators.

UK Socialist deputy Arlene McCarthy, said “When we voted through the mobile phone law I said we would be vigilant and check whether consumers are getting a fair deal.”

“We are concerned, for instance, that the operators are pushing texting to consumers, where prices are still too high and texts are not covered by the regulation.”

McCarthy, chair of the internal market and consumer protection committee, held a workshop in parliament on Tuesday on implementation of the new law.

She added,“It would be cynical if operators were promoting texting as a more discreet way of contacting friends and family, when in fact it can be more expensive and prices are not protected by the law.”

“In general consumer are benefiting from the roaming law. We want to ensure that operators are not increasing the cost of domestic calls to compensate for the loss of excess profits from the inflated roaming prices.”

“We expect the regulators to act swiftly in the interests of the consumer and have referred consumer complaints to national regulation.”

Her fears were echoed by centre-right deputy Paul Rubig, who said, “The fact is that some operators are not providing pricing information for customers. Indeed, there is some evidence that calls may have actually increased.

“Transparency is important but I am sorry to say that we still do not have it.”

Maltese Socialist Joseph Muscat said,"I think that many of the myths and fears put forward by some regarding this new law have been dispelled.

"Sadly, though, there is evidence that some operators are still trying to trick customers in various ways, for example, by charging by the minute and not by seconds, which invariably means clients will pay more."

Under the new 'Eurotariff' customers are protected with a cap on charges which will be reduced annually over a three year period. The operator will not be able to charge Eurotariff customers more than certain rates.

All roaming customers should automatically receive a text setting out the maximum chare for making calls in any European country the moment they enter that country, although McCarthy says this is not currently happening.

This can be deactivated and reactivated on request, and more detailed information, including text and data costs, can be requested by text or by calling, free of charge.

Reding said the commission will monitor data and texting charges, and domestic calling prices, and report back to parliament on these issues and the overall state of competition in the roaming market by the end of 2008.

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