Going overseas? Often you are told to be wary about using your mobile in case you are charged for international roaming. And with good reason – many clients get what’s commonly called “bill shock” after returning from overseas. But it was announced last week that the government is cracking down on these charges. We look at what this means for you and your credit file.

By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

Recently we gave you a breakdown of things to look out for with your credit file when traveling. In this blog post, titled How An Overseas Trip Can See You With Bad Credit we looked at ways in which you could be at risk of getting a bad credit rating when traveling overseas. Number 3 on the list of ways you can cop bad credit on an overseas trip was phone charges:

Many phone companies charge you extra for calls you make and receive while you are o/s. Call your telco provider and make sure you know all the facts before you take your phone on a holiday with you. It might be better to get an overseas phone or SIM for your trip instead.

We help a number of clients who have had a default or other credit listing placed on their credit file during or after the course of a bill dispute following what customers call “excessive” “outrageous” and “unfair” mobile roaming charges which see them with whopping phone bills they either can’t pay or refuse to pay.

But it seems telcos may soon be forced to reduce their mobile roaming charges.

The Australian reports in its story New Move to Cut Mobile Roaming Charges,that the Australian and New Zealand governments have combined to stop telcos on both sides of the Tasman from hitting travellers with excessive mobile roaming fees.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and New Zealand Communications Minister Amy Adams today released a draft report that looks at ways to cut charges and improve transparency.

“The draft report makes it clear that telecommunications companies are stinging consumers on trans-Tasman mobile roaming charges and that their profit margins are excessive,” Senator Conroy told reporters in Canberra.

The findings have already prompted the federal government to protect Australians travelling further abroad.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has been told to create an industry standard for mobile roaming so charges for call, text messages, internet surfing are transparent.

Senator Conroy said the standard should be in place within a year.

“One of the most common complaints that I hear is from people who return from overseas and are confronted by a mobile phone bill that runs into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars,” he said.

Both Ministers said the frequency of travel between nations highlights the need for common and reasonable pricing for international roaming.

They are now seeking feedback on the draft report from the telecoms industry, ahead of formulating their final responses.

In the meantime, there are many who are currently facing these billing issues. The important thing to remember is – whenever any changes are made or agreements are reached, whether it be with your billing charges or your accounts, or when going overseas, you should always request things be sent to you in writing for confirmation.

If you are worried about what may have been reported about you on your credit report, you are entitled to obtain a copy of your credit report for free from the credit reporting agencies in Australia (you can do this once every 12 months). A report will be mailed to you within 10 days of your request.

If you think a default on your credit file is wrong, or you want to dispute your credit report, contact a professional credit repairer to discuss your suitability for credit repair. If the credit listing is incorrect, contains errors or just shouldn’t be there, a credit repairer can help prepare your case and give you the best chance of having the default or other mistake on your credit file completely removed so you can apply for credit with a clean slate. Contact a Credit Repair Advisor at MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs on 1300 667 218 or visit our main website www.mycra.com.au.

Image: adamr/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net