UK tourists face EU roaming charges post-Brexit

Holidaymakers could face hefty roaming charges for using their mobile phones in the EU after Brexit, a leaked report from the European Parliament suggests.

A document from the committee on industry, research and energy, endorsed by MEPs, says UK tourists will pay extra "unless the British government strikes a favourable deal" with the EU after it leaves the bloc, reports The Guardian.

In a move announced by the European Commission last week, mobile phone roaming charges will be banned from June, meaning "consumers will be able to call, send texts or surf the web on their mobile at the same price they pay at home" when travelling in the EU.

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It follows a vote by MEPs in October 2015 in favour of a ban and endorsing an interim cap on charges.

Consequently, from last April, operators were able to add no more than 3.5p extra per text, minute of call or extra megabyte of data, compared to the previous 16p a minute for calls, 5p per text message and 17p per megabyte of data previously.

Under the new ruling, which comes into force in April, operators must not add any extra charges to the rates users pay in their home country.

Unless a deal is agreed, UK users could be hit with a sizeable bill post-Brexit: in 2014, roaming charges in the EU cost Brits a total of £573m, with an average of £61 added to bills. Seventeen per cent of those affected faced bills of £100 or more, according to Uswitch.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "From the cost of food and petrol to mobile phone bills, Brexit is hitting consumers in the pocket. Families shouldn't pay the price for this government's reckless hard Brexit plans."