Mobile phone firms must make the price of a mobile phone clear to customers if they are offering ‘free’ ones as part of a subscription package, the Supreme Court said on Friday.

The ruling stems from a legal case against a woman who took out several subscriptions which included ‘free’ phones. She then took the phones – worth around €475 – and never paid any subscription fees.

The case proved to be a legal minefield, involving a dispute about consumer credit legislation, and ended up with the Supreme Court.

The court ruled that consumers can assume that part of the subscription cost includes payment for the phone. Therefore, the court said in its ruling, providers must now clearly state what that is.

This means that mobile phone subscribers with a ‘free’ phone are now protected by laws governing consumer credit.