Press release
Squeezed households could get ahead of upcoming price hikes and slash mobile, broadband and TV bills by up to £250, Which? finds
5 min read
Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, said: "While our findings show that out of contract customers can avoid mid-contract price hikes by switching to a new provider or haggling with their current one, those still signed up to mobile or broadband contracts could be hit with price increases that could be as high as 18 per cent. "Given the unrelenting cost of living crisis, Which? is calling for all providers to allow all customers to exit their contracts penalty free if their tariff does go up mid-contract and that anyone eligible for a social tariff should be allowed to move to one without facing exit fees." ENDS
Notes to editors: Some broadband providers use the Consumer Price Index (CPI), published in January, as a basis for price rises but add on an extra 3-3.9%. In 2020 or 2021, this meant rises of around 5%, but in 2022 they were closer to 10%. This year CPI is forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility to be around 10% which could mean prices rises approaching 14%. Some mobile providers (EE, Three, Vodafone) also base price rises on CPI. But others use the Retail Price Index (RPI), as published in February, which is typically even higher than CPI. O2 and Virgin Mobile add an extra 3.9% on top of RPI. RPI is forecast to be around 14% in January so some mobile customers face increases of nearly 18% this year.
Which? cost of living campaign The consumer champion recently launched a campaign calling on businesses in essential sectors - supermarkets, telecoms and energy - to do more to help their customers through the cost of living crisis. Read more about the campaign and more about Which?'s calls on businesses .
Which? Research Which? surveyed 5,139 people whose broadband, TV & broadband and/or mobile phone contract ended in the previous 12 months. Fieldwork was carried out in October 2022 by Deltapoll. Previous research -
More info on mid-contract price hikes -
- Ofcom says it wants companies to think very carefully about what is justified during an exceptional period of hardship for many people. -
- Ofcom fairness commitments -
- Ofcom rules to protect customers from mid-contract price hikes that cause 'material detriment' -
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