Mobile Call Charges

Yesterday there was a story running on the news that the cost of making a call using your mobile whilst abroad was to be reduced. This was at the say so of the EU.

When I first heard it I thought that sounds good, it wasn’t until later at night that I heard an interview with some big wig at the EU who came up with the idea that I realised it wasn’t such a good deal as the mainstream news channels were making it out to be, namely ITV’s evening news.

From the interview here is my take on what they want to do.

You go to Italy on holiday.
You want to call the local taxi office to take you and the bit of local fluff you met to a nightclub.
This call will be charged at the rate applied by the local network you are using. No extra charges by the UK network you use. (o2, Vodafone etc)

You go to France.
You want to call your mistress in the UK to make sure she is staying faithful whilst you and your wife and 2 kids take a weeks break at the Disneyland Resort.
This will cost much the same as it does now - a fortune.

You go to Holland.
You’re in the red light area and you see your neighbours daughter who ran away 2 months ago in a shop window and you think you ought to tell him as he is in Belguim on holiday and can come and rescue her. (after you pump her for free on the understanding you never seen her and won’t tell a soul)
Here you will be charged by the Dutch network and the Belgian network. No extra charges by your UK network.

You go to Spain.
You’re sat at the pool nursing one of those horrendous hangovers, trying to rid yourself of the pain with a chilled San Miguel eyeing up the bird with the big knockers from Doncaster whose snatch must be shaved bald as her bikini is nothing more than a piece of string and your phone rings IDing as your mother.
You will no longer be charged for receiving this call.

Whether or not things work out this way or not remains to be seen. I’d guess the UK carriers won’t be impressed by it as they will lose a packet.