Mobile phone users face ‘rip-off ’ charges

A THIRD of mobile phone customers are overcharged when their contract ends despite a drive against the practice, Which? has warned.

Research by the consumer group suggests one in three so-called “bundled” customers, who pay for their phone as part of their contract, are still being charged full price when it ends.

Last year, Ofcom, the regulator, secured voluntary commitments from most major networks to cut down the practice, which sees just over a million consumers overpaying by £11 a month.

Three does not discount bills when a contract ends, while Vodafone and EE do so after three months. Which? said this “could leave customers unnecessarily paying the full price of their contract for three months after it ends”.

Natalie Hitchins, from Which?, said: “While some mobile firms have taken action to end overpayments, our research suggests that others could do a lot more to ensure that customers are not being exposed to rip-off charges.”

Vodafone said: “We contact all customers coming to the end of their con- tract to alert them to upgrade offers or ways in which we can reduce their bill.”

EE said it sent reminders to encourage customers to “choose the right deal for them when their contract ends”.

Three said it contacts all customers before the end of their contracts to help them choose the best tariff.

Ofcom said the commitments it secured are “cutting bills for millions of customers”. A spokesman said: “We’re closely monitoring the impact of these changes and we will publish detailed findings in the spring.”