FCC wants phone companies to give customers a heads-up before "bill shock" hits

[babylonsister]

Regulators seek to avoid surprises on cell bills
FCC wants phone companies to give customers a heads-up before "bill shock" hits
By JOELLE TESSLER, Associated Press

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Federal regulators are considering rules that would require wireless phone companies to alert consumers before they reach roaming or data usage limits on their wireless plans.

The Federal Communications Commission says it is seeking input on ways to head off "bill shock," which it describes as "the experience of getting an unexpectedly high wireless phone bill." The FCC says it has received hundreds of complaints from across the country involving all the major carriers.

The agency is considering following the lead of the European Union, which requires wireless companies to send a text message to customers who are running up roaming charges or approaching caps on data usage.

The effort, being spearheaded by the FCC's new Consumer Task Force, is part of a broader push at the commission to enact strong consumer protection measures across the telecommunications industry.

more...

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/story/index.html?story=/news/feature/2010/05/11/us_tec_fcc_wireless_rule

[htuttle]

1. Got really nailed with roaming charges once

I took a week-long bus trip a few states away and inadvertently left my phone on. Didn't make or receive any calls the whole time, but it was on, so I got over $100 in roaming charges...almost 3 times my normal monthly bill....not a happy day.