Bill for using your mobile in EU to be cut

THE cost of using a mobile phone in Europe will be cut before families head abroad for the summer holidays.

Reductions on roaming charges are being pushed through by the EU despite opposition from the networks, led by Vodafone.

The European Commission said consumers should not be charged more for calls, texts or access to the internet when travelling in other member states.

A cap was started five years ago by the EU to end what many saw as a rip-off which left them with huge bills on their return home.

Currently, the limit on what can be charged for making a call is around 30p and 9p for a text. However, this is set to fall every July between now and 2014 to 12p a minute to make a call and 4p for a text.

Historically, the big networks were able to claim a profit margin of up to 400 per cent on the cost of using a mobile abroad.

Labour MEP Peter Skinner said: ‘This compromise would bring down charges across the EU in time for this year’s summer holidays. Phone companies are still using travel as a way of ripping off customers.

‘Airwaves know no borders so it’s crazy to pay loads for a call from Dover to Calais 21 miles away, while Dover to the Shetlands, hundreds of miles away, costs much less.’ Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao has called for an end to the squeeze on charges, suggesting they were a threat to jobs.

But Neelie Kroes, EU Digital Agenda Commissioner, said yesterday: ‘Message to Vittorio and Vodafone: I call your bluff, and indeed do not respond well to threats. I take the side of the Vodafone customer.’

Monique Goyens, director general of European consumer group BEUC, said: ‘High roaming costs have long been a blight of travel for European consumers.’

Separately, there will be a new cap to bring down the cost of internet data downloads from around 40p per megabyte in July this year to 16p by July 2014.