Cellphone carriers begin warning about extra fees

{mosads}The FCC had drafted rules to require the notifications, but put the regulations on hold after the companies agreed to voluntarily implement the system.

The carriers agreed that by Oct. 17, 2012, customers would receive free alerts when they approached limits in two of four areas: data, voice, text and international roaming. The carriers promised to provide alerts for all four areas by next April.

“Today, by harnessing technology to empower consumers, almost all Americans can receive alerts to help avoid unexpected charges, giving them the information they need to manage monthly wireless bills,” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a statement.

Steve Largent, CTIA’s president and CEO, said all of his member companies are now providing alerts in two of the four areas and are on track to fully implement the system by the April deadline.

“U.S. wireless providers have a strong history of competing against one another on a variety of user-friendly tools so consumers may understand and track their usage,” he said. “Today’s announcement is another demonstration of this exemplary history of customer service.”