- 4 updates
Bills cap for phone theft victims
Mobile phone users whose handsets are stolen will no longer be hit with "shock bills" when a new cap on the maximum value of calls they will be expected to pay for comes into force next spring under an agreement between ministers and four operators.
Live updates
Labour: Phone bills cap should not be voluntary
Labour criticised the Government's new measures to cap mobile phone bills for victims of handset theft as "not strong enough protection" for consumers, because it relies on voluntary participation from phone companies.
The measures, set to be introduced next spring, include a break-off clause if call prices rise mid-contract, but Ms Goodman said this will "fail" most people with phone contracts.
"Existing fixed contracts should be fixed – introducing ‘fixed means fixed’ from January will fail most mobile users."
Miller: Mobile deal protects families from price hikes
Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the Government's new deal with telecoms providers will help to prevent families with mobile phones being hit with surprise price rises mid-contract.
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What phone users can expect from 'shock' bills cap
Here are details of the new measures to protect mobile phone users from "shock bills", which are expected to be enforced from next spring
- A new liability cap - expected to be £50 - on mobiles that are lost or stolen
- A right to be informed if prices rise mid-contract
- A right to break off the contract without penalty if they don't want to pay higher rates
- BT, Sky and TalkTalk have agreed to support Government efforts to eliminate EU roaming charges by 2016.
Phone theft victims to be protected from 'shock bills'
Mobile phone users whose handsets are stolen will no longer be hit with "shock bills" when a new cap on the maximum value of calls they will be expected to pay for comes into force next spring.
The Government has struck the deal with four major mobile companies - EE, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone, as well as communications providers BT, Sky and TalkTalk.
It marks the latest move by ministers to help households struggling to pay their bills, following accusations by Labour leader Ed Miliband that the UK is suffering a "cost of living crisis".