Sun Herald (20 October 2002)

News - Roaming phones running up huge bills for travellers.

By DANIEL DASEY, CONSUMER REPORTER.    

OVERSEAS mobile phone charges are being investigated amid claims calls are costing up to 10 times too much.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is concerned telephone companies may be overcharging customers for roaming services and hiding behind complicated pricing structures.  "The figures certainly appear high and that's why we're looking at them," ACCC telecommunications general manager Michael Cosgrove said. "The ACCC is examining the level of international roaming charges and is looking [to] the market place to provide more transparency."

Australians pay four to five times too much for calls when travelling in New Zealand and up to seven times too much in Hong Kong, according to the chief users' lobby, the Australian Telecommunications Users Group (ATUG).

The ACCC is also monitoring a European Union investigation into similar complaints.