No more ‘bill shock’ as EU roaming charges end

Mobile roaming charges across the EU are to end this week.

The charges will be abolished from 15 June, meaning UK mobile phone users can use their regular allowance of calls, texts and data for no extra cost from anywhere in the EU.

The legislation aims to prevent consumers receiving huge bills after downloading films or other data while travelling in Europe.

But consumer watchdog Which? has warned that differences between providers when it comes to the details of tariffs could lead to unexpected costs for customers.

So-called “bill shock” from holidaying in the EU affected more than nine million UK mobile users a year, according to research by comparison website uswitch, with consumers especially vulnerable since smartphone mobile data consumption soared.