So, why have mobile spending caps been introduced? When do they apply? How do you set\/manage your network’s spending caps? And what does the introduction of spending caps mean to you, personally? Read on to find the answers to these and other questions about mobile spending caps. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
ADVISORY:<\/strong> <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This is an Information <\/em>Blog About Monthly [Mobile] Bill Capping <\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If, after reading through, you still have a question about [network] mobile spending caps. How a spending cap might affect your ability to access our service. Or you want to know about chat credits<\/strong> as an alternation to mobile billing, please get in touch<\/a>. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n All You Need to Know About Spending Caps<\/strong> In the UK, all mobile phone networks are now legally obliged to offer you the option of a \u2018spending cap\u2019 on Pay Monthly contracts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A spending cap imposes an absolute limit on how much you can be charged by your mobile network for things outside your regular price plan. This includes premium-rate phone calls and text messages, out-of-bundle usage, international calls, and international roaming.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n NB Pay Monthly mobile contracts without a cap mean the person responsible for the contract is automatically liable to pay for additional charges incurred on it.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Additional charges can result from out-of-allowance usages such as premium-rate calls and text messages (including reality TV voting), international calls and international roaming. For each of these, the charges can very quickly add up, giving customers an unexpected surprise when they get their bill the following month.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For greater control over spending, many people have chosen a Pay As You Go (PAYG) tariff.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Capped Contracts In The UK<\/strong> By adding a spending cap to your mobile contract, you can guarantee that you won\u2019t ‘accidentally’ run up a large phone bill by mistake. For instance, someone who has a \u00a312\/month price plan with a \u00a35 spend cap can be guaranteed to never pay more than \u00a317\/month. If a certain type of usage is going to push your phone bill over the spending cap that\u2019s been applied, your mobile network will need to bar that activity until you\u2019ve given express permission to go over the limit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Customers who took out their mobile phone contract before October 2018<\/strong> may or may not be offered the option of capping their contract. There is only a legal requirement to offer to customers a spend capping who started their contract after the 1st October 2018.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n What\u2019s Included & Excluded?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n International roaming charges are covered by your monthly spending cap. The spending cap on your mobile phone contract will cover additional usage charges from your mobile network above your regular monthly price plan. This includes the access charge for premium rate calls and text messages, out-of-allowance usage, international calls, and international roaming charges.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The spending cap doesn\u2019t cover additional services or bundles you may purchase from your mobile network (e.g. entertainment or additional bolt-ons to your plan). It also doesn\u2019t cover any RPI-linked price increases or fees (e.g. for late payment or receiving printed bills). Finally, the spending caps don\u2019t cover other payments you may make to companies through your mobile phone. This includes applications and in-app purchases from iTunes<\/a> and Google Play<\/a>, for instance, so you should continue to take precautions around this when giving a phone to your kids!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Alternatives to Capped Contracts<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Pay As You Go is available with no credit checks. When you take out a capped mobile contract, you\u2019ll still need to undergo a credit check as normal. You\u2019ll also commit to remaining on your tariff for the duration of the contract (typically for 24 months if you\u2019re buying a new smartphone). This may sometimes cause you to pay more than you need (e.g. if you choose an expensive plan with more data than you need, or if you choose a lower-cost plan with too little data and need to purchase add-ons for more data).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For this reason, some people still prefer to get a Pay As You Go deal. With Pay As You Go, there\u2019s no need to undergo a credit check and you have the flexibility to change your price plan as required each month. You\u2019ll also be able to change mobile networks whenever you like, and there\u2019s no possibility of running up extra charges beyond the credit on your account. For children, a Pay As You Go deal may also be beneficial as it can encourage independence and responsibility for managing their own budget.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Existing customers who have joined or upgraded their EE plan since 1st October 2018 can manage their Spending Cap through the My EE app. Alternatively, you can text SPEND CAP to 150 or dial 150 on your EE handset to manage your spend cap.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Once you reach your monthly spend cap, all out-of-bundle services will be barred until the end of the month. You\u2019ll need to opt-in to \u201cpausing your spend cap\u201d if you\u2019d like to access these services.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n NB Customers who joined EE before October 2018 will have a data cap on their plan instead of a spending cap.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n With the Spending Cap enabled, you\u2019ll receive a text message when you reach 50% and 100% of your monthly Spending Cap. Out-of-allowance usage will also be barred once you reach 100%.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u2019s possible to adjust your Spending Cap by contacting O2 through their Live Chat service or by calling 202.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A spending cap will limit the amount you can spend on top of the cost of your monthly price plan. So, whether you\u2019ve run out of minutes or data, or you want to make some premium rate calls that aren\u2019t included in your allowance, you won\u2019t need to worry about your bill.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Simply choose the maximum amount you\u2019re willing to pay each month (on top of what you pay for your plan) and your bill will be capped so you won\u2019t accidentally spend too much. You can choose from \u00a310 \u2013 \u00a3100 in \u00a310 increments, or set it at \u00a30 if you prefer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Existing customers can add a spending cap to their plan by calling 333 or by visiting a nearby Three retail store.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n NB If you signed up to Vodafone before 1st October 2018, you won\u2019t be able to use the My Spend Manager service. However, you may still be eligible for data caps and roaming data caps on your plan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you have a giffgaff <\/a>goodybag<\/a><\/em> bundle, you\u2019ll receive a text message notification once you\u2019ve used 80% of your data, and another text message notification once you\u2019ve used 100% of your allowance. After this, you can choose to renew your goodybag<\/em> early or you can continue using data at a reduced rate of 2p\/MB on Pay As You Go.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When ordering a Pay Monthly contract through the iD Mobile website, you\u2019ll be asked to choose a bill cap between \u00a30 and \u00a325 per month.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Existing iD Mobile customers can also change their bill cap at any time through the My iD Mobile application.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Smart Cap can be set to any amount between \u00a30 and \u00a330 per month, in \u00a31 increments. By default, it\u2019s set to \u00a310 unless you change it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The <\/strong>Smart Cap is the amount that you\u2019re happy to spend above your monthly SIM only plan on chargeable services (i.e. calls to premium numbers or when you\u2019re abroad). You\u2019ll set this during the signup process. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u2019s really easy to change your Smart Cap, just go in your account and change it anytime. You can set it anywhere between low as \u00a30.00 and \u00a330.00.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n They will try and drop you an email and a text when you\u2019ve used 80% and 100% of your bundle allowances and when you reach your Smart Cap, but this might not be possible if one call takes you from under 80% to 100% of your Smart Cap. You\u2019ll always be in control.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When you hit your Smart Cap, all chargeable services will be suspended until your next bill, you\u2019ll still be able to use your remaining inclusive minutes, text messages and data allowance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you want to carry on using chargeable services, you can make a payment to reduce your outstanding balance or increase the Smart Cap. Easy peasy!<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can change the spending cap at any time through the My Sky website.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You\u2019re in Control<\/strong> If You\u2019re Super-cautious<\/strong> You\u2019ll be given the option to set your \u201csafety buffer\u201d during the checkout on Tesco Mobile\u2019s website.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you\u2019re taking out a new contract online, you\u2019ll be offered the option to \u201cadd a spending cap\u201d during the checkout process.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Existing customers can manage their spending cap through the My Virgin Mobile app. If you took out your contract before November 2017, it might be necessary to upgrade to a newer price plan to take advantage of spend capping.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n What is it?<\/strong> What is the Scope and what Actions Need to be Taken by Mobile Networks?<\/strong> Notifications \u2013 these must be sent to customers if they are coming close to reach their limit and once they have reached their limit, notifications must be in writing by the preferred contact method (i.e. SMS\/Email).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Restricted Charging \u2013 providers are prohibited from charging beyond the set bill limit if a customer exceeds the amount and the service is not restricted or highlighted by the provider in time. Bill providers are responsible for supplier costs that cannot be passed on to the customer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For premium & non-standard services still chargeable (in part) \u2013 providers will not be able to pass on \u201cAccess Charges\u201d related to Premium and Non-Geo call types. However, relevant \u201cService Charges\u201d will be passed on and will NOT contribute towards the Bill Limit value. In addition, \u201cCharge to Mobile\u201d services or any non-mobile Access bundles and free services \u2013 In the event a customer breaches their Bill Limit, providers must still offer end-users access to inclusive allowances (like tariff allowances and bolt-ons), free-of-charge services and emergency services.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n What Are The Biggest Challenges with Implementing This?<\/strong> Real-Time Billing \u2013 not currently available to Riviera Networks<\/a> from network suppliers, meaning late landing Restriction\/Barring Capabilities \u2013 as covered above, the legislation outlines that suppliers should not restrict services covered within service charges (such as inclusive bundles and free services). However, the networks do not offer restrictions to suit each and every instance. For example, if a user goes abroad to a WTS destination, they will receive the \u00a35 per day charge until they hit their limit value. At that point, the device will be roaming barred to ensure no further daily charges are applied. If that user then goes back to the EU within the same billing cycle, they would be entitled to use roaming services. In instances such as this, the customer will experience a disruption in service that cannot currently be avoided.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n What Has Been Done to Make This Work?<\/strong> Vodafone \u2013 have clarified they will be working on ensuring rated CDR availability times are improved. However, this will still not cater to late landing traffic but should assist in reducing the reaction time to limit breaches. They have also confirmed they are not working on new bars, but there may be existing restrictive \u201cprofiles\u201d that can be added that are not currently in use.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 02 \u2013 have advised they’re considering new bars and working on a low-risk proposition for ISP resellers. This will put the risk with the network as opposed to the Partner. However, no official details have been clarified or released yet as far as we’re aware.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Riviera Networks<\/a> \u2013 need to ensure their customers have access to a bill limit service. If you’re a business mobile customer and would like to discuss your options you should contact the Riviera Networks support team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Please ensure that you do not solely rely on any information contained within. You should contact your own legal advisor in the event you need a comprehensive and up-to-date statement of the relevant Law\/Legislation. Furthermore, please be aware that the implementation of these regulations may differ from provider to provider (including networks). For example, some providers may choose to include the service charge element of a call towards the customer\u2019s bill limit. Customers may, of course, query this or any other offerings included within their bill limit.<\/em><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So, why have mobile spending caps been introduced? When do they apply? How do you set\/manage your network’s spending caps? And what does the introduction of spending caps mean to you, personally? Read on to find the answers to these and other questions about mobile spending caps. ADVISORY: This is an Information Blog About Monthly … Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3827,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3765"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3765"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3828,"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3765\/revisions\/3828"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xxxsexcontacts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
You can now cap your monthly mobile spend. Even if you go over any of your monthly allowances, you’ll never get shocked by the size of your bill. Good know, right? Well, yes and no.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
As of 1st October 2018, Ofcom<\/a> (the UK\u2019s regulator for telecommunication services) has required every mobile network to have a \u201ccapped contract\u201d offering. This means you\u2019re now able to take out any Pay Monthly contract and can ask to have a \u201cspending cap\u201d applied to it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
In the UK, BT Mobile has offered spending caps as a key feature of their mobile network since launch in March 2015. By default, customers will receive a \u00a340 spend cap over their normal monthly bill. However, this can be lowered through the BT Mobile website or app to as little as zero.<\/li>
On EE, you\u2019ll be offered the ability to add a Spending Cap when signing up for a new Pay Monthly contract. During the checkout process, this option is listed under the \u201cWould you like to control your mobile spend?\u201d sub-heading. Within this section, you\u2019ll be able to choose a spending cap of between \u00a30 and \u00a350 over your normal monthly bill.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
On O2, you\u2019ll be able to add a Spending Cap to your plan of between \u00a30 and \u00a3200 when signing up for your contract. This is listed in the checkout process under the \u201cYour Spend Cap\u201d heading.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Three allows all Pay Monthly customers to set a monthly spend cap of between \u00a30 and \u00a3100. You\u2019ll be asked whether you want to \u201cset a spending cap\u201d during the online checkout process:<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Vodafone offers a free service called My Spend Manager on all Pay Monthly contracts taken out from 1st October 2018 onwards. The service can be enabled when signing up for your contract, or at any other time through the My Vodafone app.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
On giffgaff, there\u2019s no need to set a monthly spend cap as the service works on a pre-paid basis. You can sign up to giffgaff without undergoing a credit check, and will only be able to spend money that\u2019s been topped up to your account.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
iD Mobile has offered bill capping since the launch of their mobile network in May 2015. This was originally only made available to customers choosing a \u201cShockProof\u201d price plan, but is now available to all customers regardless of which price plan they choose.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
On Plusnet Mobile, a feature called Smart Cap is included by default on all contracts. This is designed to give you greater control and peace of mind over your monthly phone bill and allows you to set the maximum amount you\u2019re happy to spend over your normal monthly allowance.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Sky has offered monthly spending caps on Sky Mobile since October 2018. Both new and existing customers are able to set a spending cap on their account, of between zero and \u00a3100 per month on each SIM card (available in \u00a31 increments).<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Tesco Mobile was one of the UK\u2019s first mobile networks to offer a \u201ccapped contract\u201d option, with this having been available to customers since October 2009. With the capped contract option, you can choose a safety buffer of between zero and \u00a3100 over your normal monthly tariff price:<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
You decide how much you want to spend on top of your monthly tariff price, from zero to \u00a3100. Your bill won\u2019t go higher than that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
If you don\u2019t want to spend any extra, you can choose a zero bill cap. You won\u2019t be able to do anything apart from use your monthly minutes, texts and data, so your bill will never be higher than your tariff price.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
If you\u2019re on a Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly contract, it\u2019s possible to set a spending cap on your plan of between \u00a30 and \u00a3100 per month. This spending cap is for all additional spending over your regular monthly payment.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Mobile Bill Limit Legislation, October 2018<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The new legislation was introduced via Parliament as part of the Digital Economy Act<\/a> and came into force 1st October 2018 as part of the Communications Act.<\/a> It will apply to all new contracts, including re-signs, taken out from this date and aims to significantly reduce risk of \u201cbill-shock\u201d for end-users.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Offer a Bill Limit \u2013 each customer must be given the option to set an overall bill limit by account or by MPN at the point of sale\/renewal from 1st October 2018, with the ability to manage this throughout the life-cycle as required with fair notice for the provider. Restrictions and spend values must be reset at the beginning of each billing cycle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
usage (such as MPAY) will not form a part of the Bill Limit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The biggest challenges to the introduction of this legislation are relevant to almost all ISPs and resellers, and those are:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
domestic and roaming traffic could always cause issues with forwarding billing for customers with bill limits.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
There are a variety of things, with both the networks and Riviera Networks<\/a>, which will be subject to change from time-to-time. Below we have listed some of these:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n