The five major UK mobile operators have signed up to a new Code of Practice to limit unexpected charges.
EE, O2, Vodafone, Three and Virgin Media will all offer customers a liability cap set at £100 when a phone is reported lost or stolen within 24 hours.
Three was the first to introduce the liability cap in January 2015, while EE claims it will be in place in the coming weeks. The cap will be introduced in September by O2 and during the summer by Virgin and Vodafone.
The operators will also help customers to limit out of bundles data charges by providing alerts and the ability to monitor usage.
The voluntary code will also require them to provide protections against in-app purchases and barring functions to protect against inadvertent calls to premium rate voice services.
Hamish MacLeod, chair of the Mobile Broadband Group, said: "This announcement is a major new protection for customers and is in line with the industry’s longstanding commitment to help our customers protect their mobile and its contents."
Ed Vaizey, Minister for the Digital Economy, added: "Protecting hardworking families from shock bills through no fault of their own has been a priority for this government. By working with the mobile operators, we have secured an agreement that will provide consumers with real benefits as well as offer peace of mind."
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