European Union member states have blocked plans to ban so-called ‘ roaming ’ charges for people using data on their smartphones and tablet devices . Most mobile companies slap the sky-high fees on people ’ s bills whenever they use their email , search the web , or use an online map to navigate , whilst they are overseas . Customers can pay a small amount for special roaming packages , but people who fail to do this face eye-watering charges , even if they have used their mobile phone sparingly . Scroll down for video . Change in direction : EU member states have done a U-turn on plans to ban so-called ‘ roaming ’ charges for people using data on their smartphones and tablet devices . Often , they will find their bills tens or hundreds higher than usual . In some cases , customers have racked up thousands of pounds just by surfing the web on their mobiles whilst on holiday . The European Commission had promised to axe the controversial fees by the end of 2015 . However , the EU member states voted against that plan , so they will now remain in place until at least 2018 , and could stay far into the future . The move has sparked outrage amongst Brussels . Guy Verhofstadt , leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , said he would fight ‘ vigourously ’ to end roaming charges this year , and that ‘ EU member states should hang their heads in shame ’ . Neelie Kroes , the European Commission 's former digital tsar first called for a ban on roaming charges in 2013 . The move was hugely unpopular with mobile operator , who rely on roaming charges to fatten the industry ’ s profits . They argue that the roaming charges are necessary to cover the costs that they are charged by foreign operators for carrying data across their networks . Angered : Guy Verhofstadt , leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe , said he would fight ‘ vigourously ’ to end roaming charges . However , all mobile phone operators charge each other for this service , meaning that the whole industry is effectively taxing customers for using their phones overseas , and passing the money between them . Now Mrs Kroes ’ successors have rowed back on her policy , and said that mobile phone companies need more time to deal with the hole that a ban on roaming charges would put in their profits . Instead , they have suggested that people using their mobile phones abroad should be given a discount on a small amount of roaming , and face standard roaming charges on whatever else they use . At a meeting in Brussels , they said they would review the situation in 2018 to see if the market had come up with foreign roaming packages that offer customers better value for money . However , there is no guarantee that they would intervene , even at that point . Mathew Howett , a telecoms analyst at Ovum , said : ‘ They were going to be abolished but that has been pushed back more or less indefinitely . Customers are now relying on the market to deliver. ’ A few mobile phone companies have taken steps to reduce so-called ‘ bill shock ’ for customers returning home from overseas . Vodafone invites customers to pay for a ‘ passport ’ whenever they travel overseas , whilst Three allows users to use the internet , and make as many texts and calls as they like , when they visit certain countries , as part of its ‘ Feel at Home ’ package .
European Union ministers had promised to axe fees by the end of 2015 . The U-turn has sparked outrage with those backing ban in Brussels . Most mobile companies slap the sky-high fees on people ’ s bills to use internet on phones overseas .