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.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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."
-
Brits keeping 21 million ‘money secrets’ from friends and family, survey revealsSpeed Read Four in ten people admit staying quiet or telling fibs about debts or savings
-
London renters swap cramped flats for space in suburbiaSpeed Read New figures show tenants are leaving Britain's cities and looking to upsize
-
Should the mortgage holiday scheme have been extended?Speed Read Banks warn that some homeowners may struggle to repay additional debt
-
RBS offers coronavirus mortgage holidaysSpeed Read Taxpayer-owned bank follows measures taken in virus-struck Italy
-
What are the changes to National Savings payouts?Speed Read National Savings & Investments cuts dividends and prizes for bonds
-
China clears path to new digital currencySpeed Read Unlike other cryptocurrencies, Beijing’s would increase central control of the financial system
-
Why are donations surging to the RNLI?Speed Read Charity enjoys flood of funding after criticism for overseas work
-
PPI deadline day: how to claimSpeed Read Final chance for consumers to apply for compensation
