Those surprise overage charges on your wireless bill will soon be a thing of the past.
The vast majority of America’s wireless carriers came to terms with the Federal Communications Commission on Monday, agreeing to alert consumers when they are approaching their monthly limits for voice, data and text messages, or when they are about to incur international roaming charges. Mobile providers will send a second alert when customers reach those limits.
The news comes after a nearly two-year FCC probe into “bill shock” — the sudden, unexpected increase in monthly wireless charges without a change to a customer’s plan. The regulator estimates about 30 million Americans have experienced some form of bill shock.
CTIA, the wireless industry’s largest trade group, president Steve Largent said at least two of the four notifications for data, voice, texting and international roaming will into effect by Oct. 17, 2012, and all will be in place by April 17, 2013.