Europe targets roaming rip-offs

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2008-07-14
 
EU plans to cut the cost of sending text messages when abroad have been welcomed by SNP MEP Ian Hudghton who is supporting the plans as a member of the European Parliament's Consumer Affairs Committee.
 
Following an announcement in Brussels today the European Commission will bring forward proposals to develop a single market for text messaging across the European Union later this year and it is understood that a price cap will be proposed.
 
Commenting, the SNP MEP said:
 
"I welcome these plans to end the so-called roaming rip-off and regulate the price people are charged for sending text messages abroad.
 
"Texting is an important way for people to keep in touch with home when they go away on holiday or business, but sadly many people come home to discover they've run up far higher bills than expected.
 
"The European Commission took firm action to deal with mobile phone operators overcharging for voice calls made from other EU countries, now I hope they will be just as firm when it comes to text messages.
 
"According to the Commission's own figures, a Scot could expect to pay as much as £0.40p to send a text message home from Spain, this is more than double the EU average which in itself is way too high.
 
"I share the disappointment of Commissioner Reding at the mobile phone industry's failure to impose self-regulation and halt their overcharging, particularly since they know they would face regulation if they failed to act.
 
"We are now looking at a price cap of somewhere between 0.09p and 0.12p (€0.11 and €0.15) per text message sent from abroad, up to a third cheaper than the current average cost of a text. This won't come into force in time for this holiday season but hopefully from summer 2009 consumers will be able to enjoy cheaper texting across the European Union."

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