Five of the UK's leading mobile network operators have agreed to a new 'liability cap', to prevent customers whose phones have been stolen from having to face large bills racked up by the thieves.
EE, O2, Three, Vodafone and Virgin Media have all agreed to limiting customer liability for call charges to £100, when their devices are reported as having been lost or stolen within 24 hours, as BBC News reports.
According to the Citizens' Advice Bureau - a free service that's available to Brits needing independent advice on legal, consumer and money issues - some people have faced massive bills from their mobile network, as much as £23,000 in one case. Its chief executive, Gillian Guy, said that the "cap on bills from stolen mobile phones will come as much-needed relief to consumers targeted by phone fraudsters."
While Three introduced the new protections in January, the other four networks have only just confirmed their plans to do so as well. Under a new code of practice, the carriers have also agreed to providing clearer alerts to customers regarding their data limits, better information about avoiding roaming charges, and the ability to implement a universal bar on premium rate numbers and services, and in-app purchases.
Source: BBC News | Thief holding phone and money image via Shutterstock
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