Mobile phone rip-off: Germany does not lie in the European Union

Finally unencumbered abroad with the mobile phone telephone - owing to strict defaults from Brussels. But watched out: The mobile communications operators remains a possibility of ripping off consumer after line and thread.

My friend Nikolai originates from Bulgaria. It possesses a Bulgarian mobile phone number, it begins with +359. Each mark, if I call Nikolai, I become a little jerky. What will me these joke to probably cost? I remember vaguely that the European union for mobile phone discussions with the foreign country, neo-German: Roaming, prices determined - on that us the mobile communications operators do not rip off any longer. The minute price, which Telekom and Konsorten us may compute, sinks since the entry into force of the Roaming regulation each year. Punctually to the vacation period the final stage of the law came into force on 1 July 2014. Outgoing discussions (if one thus of its mobile phone someone calls) may now only 0.19 euros cost, arriving only 0.05 euros. And thus I decide not to worry to me because of my Bulgarian buddy too many. We are often both on travels, and if I wait somewhere for my flier, I call gladly Nikolai and ask him, where he straight is. Recently I rang from Bologna through and got him in Sofia. We led a longer telephone call, and as I in the following a month my Congstar Mobilfunkrechnung examined, found I on the single connecting proof for the discussion a pleasing small amount. From Luxembourg I had led a further telephone call with Nikolai - also this had taken, however hardly cost at least 20 minutes four euros. Bravo, European commission - that is times a regulation, as she desires the consumer. Great law with small gaps one month later notices to me that my mobile phone bill is exorbitantly high this time. Therefore I go through the posts. Among them one is, that with nearly 30 euros to beech strikes - a call on Nikolais of Bulgarian number. I check. The discussion might net only 3.80 euros have cost, 20 times 0.19 euros. Therefore I write Congstar and criticize, here am probably present a mistake. The answer comes promptly: “You note please that the connecting prices are within the European Union exclusively for discussions from the foreign country valid. Connections from Germany abroad European Union are computed in accordance with our price list with… 1.49 in the cellular radio system.” In the plain language is called: Who telephones with a German mobile phone from Luxembourg to Bulgaria or from Denmark to Italy, 0.19 euro pays the European Union-tariff per minute. Who is however in Germany (as I during the questionable discussion) and abroad telephones, the eightfold pays with Congstar. Because Germany lies, at least after their as fixed in the tariff logic, outside of the European Union. That appears to me in such a manner gaga that I look at myself to the comparison the tariffs other German providers. And, also there is actually valid: With the German mobile phone of the foreign country abroad to telephone, is in the meantime substantially cheaper to telephone than from Germany abroad. Telekom about takes for the latter a minute price of 0.29 euros. Daughter base Vodafone calls E-Plus even up to 0.98 euros up to 0.75 euros. Is permissible? May those do that? Yes, they may. Because the telephone tariffs within a national are not subject to the European Union-adjustment. In Germany for example the fixed network tariffs are supervised by the Federal Network Agency, which is mobile telephony less strongly adjusted. “The price of 1.49 euros”, explains a spokeswoman of the Federal Network Agency, “is high, but legally not open to attack.” Differently expressed: Discussions abroad are one of the few remaining ranges, within which the providers may touch correctly. And they do this with Gusto.

A Congstar spokesman does not communicate the connecting prices on request, is comparable “due to other conditions and payments in advance”. One recommends the customers to rather use for discussions of Germany abroad the fixed network. Legally this Abzockerei may be permissible. Impudent is it nevertheless. It contradicts, then find I, which idea of barrierless Europe, on which in the long run also the Roaming regulation is based. Nobody lives more on its national island - we all have friends, family members or colleagues in other European countries. We can visit it at any time, without exchange money or have our passport to present. Wouldn't it be beautiful, even if with telephone calls uniformity were valid?