MSE News: iD Mobile to refund customers after wrongly charging for EU roaming calls

Former_MSE_Megan_F

Mobile network iD Mobile has been wrongly charging customers for using their phones abroad since the introduction of free roaming calls in the EU, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal...

Read the full story:
'iD Mobile to refund customers after wrongly charging for EU roaming calls'

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Ian011

iDmobile were told two months ago they had got it wrong but chose to try to front it out for two months.

d123

Ian011 wrote: »

iDmobile were told two months ago they had got it wrong but chose to try to front it out for two months.

ID Mobile has all the DNA of CarPhoneWarehouse, that's just their usual way of doing business...

boatman

I'm sure I sent an email to MSE over a month ago telling them of this, I guess they just just ignored it.

phillw

I can see why they ignored it, I'm surprised that it got passed.

Even the EU describe it "roam like at home" & it isn't like you're at home.

boatman

phillw wrote: »

I can see why they ignored it, I'm surprised that it got passed.

Even the EU describe it "roam like at home" & it isn't like you're at home.

Maybe it should be renamed to 'Cheaper than it is to 'Roam like at home' but with a few terms and conditions'. Can't see it catching on, not such a catchy tag line..

Ian011

The new rules take whatever you pay for calls and texts to UK landline and mobile numbers while you are in the UK and extend that deal to cover calls and texts to all landline and mobile numbers in all EU and EEA member states and territories when you are roaming in any EU or EEA member state or territory.

The regulations fix the specific issue of excessive bills while roaming in EU and EEA member states. Competition had failed to do so.

The rules do not apply when you are calling numbers outside of the EU or EEA or if you are calling premium rate numbers. The rules also do not apply when you are roaming outside of that area. They also do not apply when you are using your phone in your home country to make calls to international numbers - because you are not roaming.

Within individual home country markets, competition sees a wide variety of services with an even wider range of prices. In fact, it might be argued there is too much choice and poor understanding of how to compare competing offers.

boatman

Taking premium numbers out of the mix as they are for the most part silly money from a mobile. I think there are 2 main areas where people will see a difference. When 'roaming' and calling one EU/EEA country from another, which goes very much in our favour. The other is not being able to use all your data package if you are on a particularly good deal or unlimited.

Now that you can call other countries in the EU/EEA whilst roaming with your inclusive minutes, it has certainly highlighted the ridiculously high prices networks charge to call the EU from the UK, I guess they have to make their money somewhere. A bit like premium numbers, you either don't use your mobile to call abroad at their standard rates or use another service to avoid the standard mobile network prices, all of which is easy to do. But judging by some of the posts on here there are a good number of people in UK still confused by the new rules and think they can call EU/EEA from UK with their inclusive minutes, I guess a couple of horror bills will put them right.

Ian011

boatman wrote: »

Taking premium numbers out of the mix as they are for the most part silly money from a mobile.

Ofcom's reforms of 1 July 2015 split the call charges for 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers into two parts. This simplicity reveals that all of those numbers are approximately 40p per minute more expensive when called from a mobile than when called from a landline. The difference is seen simply by comparing the Access Charge levied by each landline or mobile provider.

boatman wrote: »

I think there are 2 main areas where people will see a difference. When 'roaming' and calling one EU/EEA country from another, which goes very much in our favour. The other is not being able to use all your data package if you are on a particularly good deal or unlimited.

The changes also highlight what a rip-off using your phone outside of the EU or EEA is.

boatman wrote: »

Now that you can call other countries in the EU/EEA whilst roaming with your inclusive minutes, it has certainly highlighted the ridiculously high prices networks charge to call the EU from the UK, I guess they have to make their money somewhere. A bit like premium numbers, you either don't use your mobile to call abroad at their standard rates or use another service to avoid the standard mobile network prices, all of which is easy to do.

There are many ways to call international numbers from the UK at very little cost. People need to do a bit more research to find them.

boatman wrote: »

But judging by some of the posts on here there are a good number of people in UK still confused by the new rules and think they can call EU/EEA from UK with their inclusive minutes, I guess a couple of horror bills will put them right.

It doesn't help that some of the national press has printed incorrect information. Like all big changes I guess it will take a while before everyone is up to speed.