Will a ‘No-Deal’ Brexit bring back roaming and data charges in Europe?
Firms were banned from charging customers extra to use their phones abroad under EU rules brought in last year
USING your mobile phone on holiday without paying extra has been a massive hit with customers.
Firms were banned from charging customers to use their phones abroad under EU rules in June last year — but there are fears that could change for Brits after Brexit.
Will a 'No-Deal' Brexit bring back roaming charges and data fees in Europe?
The four phone company giants – Vodafone, EE, Three and O2 - who cover 85 per cent of the market told The Sun they currently have no plans to bring back mobile roaming fees, even if the UK leaves the EU without a divorce deal.
Yet there's no guarantee, and if we see a No Deal Brexit, network providers will be able to bring back the charges if they want to, .
This depends on their "commercial arrangements" with mobile network suppliers overseas.
If there's a No Deal, the government said it will legislate to introduce a cap on roaming charges.
That would set a £45 per monthly billing period limit and force companies to send alerts when 80 per cent of that had been reached.
If the UK instead agrees a deal, surcharge-free roaming will continue to apply until at least the end of the transition period on December 31, 2020, which may be extended for one or two years.
A spokesperson for Three told The Sun: "We’re committed to eradicating excessive roaming charges and will retain this great customer benefit regardless of Brexit negotiations allowing our customers to continue using their usual allowances when they travel within the EU."
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A spokesperson for Vodafone said it currently has no plans to bring back the charges, but added: "It’s too soon to assess the implications of Brexit on roaming regulation, however, we expect competition will continue to drive good value for customers."
Both EE and O2 also said they currently have any plans to bring back roaming charges.
The latter told The Sun: "We will be working closely with the government and other European operators to try and protect the current arrangements so our customers can continue to enjoy free EU roaming once Britain officially leaves the EU."
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