So what HAS the EU done for consumers?

HOLIDAYMAKERS are entitled to compensation if their flight is delayed or cancelled thanks to a series of passenger rights — known as EU regulation 261/2004 — introduced in 2005. If you are travelling with an EU airline or from an EU airport you must be given vouchers for food and drink and offered hotel accommodation. If your flight lands at your destination more than three hours late you can also claim up to €600 (£465) in cash. Before these rules were introduced, UK holidaymakers had no rights and were at the mercy of their airline or travel company. Holidaymakers are also set to benefit from an EU ban on so-called roaming charges. Historically, it has cost a lot more to use your phone abroad. But from June 15 roaming

charge will be banned and customers will pay the same price in the EU as at home. It is a long-awaited victory following years of negotiations, U-turns and battles with telecoms giants over the impact a ban will have on thier profits. Shoppers have also been given more protection as a results of the EU Consumer Directive introduced in June 2014. Sneaky pre-ticked boxes on websites that opt people into buying costly insurance extras and hidden fees and charges were all banned. shoppers were given 14 days to return goods brought on the web — up from just seven days previously. These rights were also extended for the first to those buying music, films and books in digital format. A cap on card fees introduced by the EU last year means that shoppers should also benefit from lower prices. Every time you make a purchase using your credit or debit card, the retailer has to pay the bank a small processing fee. Previously, banks could charge what they liked. But in December this was limited to 0.3 pc for credit card spending and 0.2 pc for debit cards. It’s hoped that restaurants and shops pass on the savings they make as a result of lower fees — an estimated £700 million — to customers. Finally, the amount of compensation you can claim if your bank and building society goes bust has increased from £50,000 (£100,000 for joint accounts) to £75,000 (£150,000) thanks to EU rules brought in after the financial crisis. These set the same limits across Europe.