Virgin Media announces new broadband and TV price rises: what are your options?

Virgin Media has announced that around five million broadband and TV customers will face price rises of up to £54 a year or £4.50 a month.

Customers can expect to be notified of changes this week, and all increases are effective from September or October, depending on customers' billing dates.

Find out how these changes affect you, and what your options are if you're considering switching provider.

See how real customers rate Virgin Media against competitors like BT, Sky and TalkTalk in our survey of more than 3,800 broadband the TV customers.

How is Virgin Media's price changing?

While Virgin Media has not released a price-change list for affected bundles, it says that the average price increase will be just under 5% (4.9%), which is equivalent to £39.60 a year or £3.30 a month. But some could see increases of up to £4.50 per month, or £54 a year.

Virgin Media has however clarified that some customers will not be affected by the price increases: those who signed up to one of its 'Oomph' broadband, TV and Sim-only mobiles from 29 April, and those over 65 or with accessibility needs who are on special 'Talk Protected' plans.

Due to Ofcom regulations, affected customers have 30 days from when they receive their price-rise letter where they can leave penalty-free. If you are affected, read on to find out the best tips on how to either switch or haggle to save money on your bill.

What are my options when my provider raises its prices?

If you're affected by the Virgin Media price increases, there are two options for you: switch to a new provider or haggle on your current deal.

Finding a new provider is simple - use Which? Switch Broadband to find new broadband and TV deals available where you are.

If you find it tricky choosing between different deals, our broadband and TV provider reviews reveal how satisfied customers of each provider are with different aspects of its service, including value for money, broadband speeds and the quality/variety of TV content.

Luckily, the process of switching broadband is a simple one - learn more in our guide onhow to switch broadband provider.

Can I haggle with my current provider?

If you are currently happy with the service you are getting from Virgin Media, you can use price rises as an opportunity to get a discount on your bill. Although this may seem unnerving, most people report haggling to be easy and the majority are also successful.

For a step-by-step guide on how to do it read our tips on how to haggle for the best broadband deal.