Quote:
“UK mobile phone companies have been told to let their contract customers restrict how much they spend, to avoid unexpectedly high bills.
The regulator Ofcom says the measures are needed to stop so-called "bill shock".
It says its research shows that 1.4 million customers with mobile phone contracts have been hit by surprisingly large bills in the past six months.
Ofcom says if the firms do not agree, it may force them to protect customers.
"Ofcom believes mobile providers can do more to help customers control the amount they spend on their mobile phones," the regulator said.
"Ofcom has written to the mobile providers calling on them to do more to develop and promote 'opt-in' measures, such as tariffs that allow consumers to set their own financial caps or receive alerts about usage."
The move was welcomed by the consumers' association Which?.
"Ofcom's report confirms what consumers have been telling us for years - that bill shock is a big problem," it said.
"We want clearer information for customers from the phone companies about what they charge for services in the UK and abroad, plus greater protection for consumers from hefty data charges."”
“UK mobile phone companies have been told to let their contract customers restrict how much they spend, to avoid unexpectedly high bills.
The regulator Ofcom says the measures are needed to stop so-called "bill shock".
It says its research shows that 1.4 million customers with mobile phone contracts have been hit by surprisingly large bills in the past six months.
Ofcom says if the firms do not agree, it may force them to protect customers.
"Ofcom believes mobile providers can do more to help customers control the amount they spend on their mobile phones," the regulator said.
"Ofcom has written to the mobile providers calling on them to do more to develop and promote 'opt-in' measures, such as tariffs that allow consumers to set their own financial caps or receive alerts about usage."
The move was welcomed by the consumers' association Which?.
"Ofcom's report confirms what consumers have been telling us for years - that bill shock is a big problem," it said.
"We want clearer information for customers from the phone companies about what they charge for services in the UK and abroad, plus greater protection for consumers from hefty data charges."”
Continued...BBC
Personally, I think this is a step in the right direction. What issues could there be if you get a text when you approach the monthly limit on your minutes/texts/data? Also optionally a block when the limit is exceeded. The mechanisms are already in place with some networks to already do this in certain situations, like for example O2 warn you when you get close to your data allowance etc. I can understand the networks being reluctant to do it though.
Thoughts anyone?
