Ofcom recently proposed a ban on the practice of inflation-linked mid-contract price rises, saying that they cause ‘substantial consumer harm’. However, this will not happen before the next wave of expected hikes in April 2024.
We're demanding big broadband and mobile phone providers drop hikes buried in the terms and conditions. Agree?Which?'s open letter to broadband and mobile providers
Many providers appear ready to brazenly proceed with price increases. Next week’s CPI inflation announcement will begin another round of eye-watering hikes for consumers. Many may have already endured increases of up to 17% last year.
Which? has today written an open letter to big broadband and mobile providers - BT, EE, O2, PlusNet, Shell Energy Broadband, TalkTalk, Tesco Mobile, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone - urging them to cancel any unfair and unpredictable price hikes planned for April this year.
The letter has been published as a full-page national newspaper advert this morning.
If your broadband provider hikes prices, and you're out of contract, your best bet may be to switch. Enter your postcode below to see how much you could save.Customers caught in a contractual trap
Currently millions of broadband and mobile customers who are under contract are trapped and at the mercy of providers. They face a lose-lose choice between increases that could leave some customers struggling to afford these essential services or be charged punitive exit fees - potentially of hundreds of pounds - to exit their contract early.
During a cost of living crisis when many households are struggling to make ends meet, Which? estimates that telecoms firms stand to generate more than £400 million from April’s mid-contract price hikes alone.
We are calling for people to be given certainty about the total cost of their broadband and mobile contract when they sign up.
Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:'Millions of people face price rises they could never have predicted when they signed broadband or mobile contracts and may struggle to afford. Given the regulator has found inflation-linked mid-contract price rises harm consumers and set out proposals to ban them, it would be unconscionable for telecoms providers to proceed with these hikes.
'Telecoms firms must do the right thing - scrap their plans for unfair price hikes this April and end unpredictable in-contract price increases once and for all, so everyone can understand what they will pay when they sign up to a contract for these essential services.'
Read our and to end unpredictable mid-contract price rises.source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/telecoms-firms-urged-to-scrap-unconscionable-mid-contract-price-hikes-aRWEG3Q0cYMz