Shock Warning: Broadband Bills Could Soar by £150 Mid-Contract
Consumer watchdog Which? has launched a blazing campaign exposing the telecoms industry’s sneaky price hikes. They warn broadband customers could face unexpected charges totalling £150 during their contract, thanks to annual mid-contract increases.
Big Names Behind Rising Bills
BT, EE, Virgin Media, and other major providers routinely jack up prices mid-contract. They base hikes on Consumer Price Index (CPI) or Retail Price Index (RPI) figures, plus extra percentages. This means average price rises of over 8% in 2024 for many. Virgin Media customers could see hikes soaring beyond 10%.
Which? reveals these savage increases pile on top of a hefty 14% rise in 2023. Customers who signed up in January 2023 face eye-watering extra costs over their 18 or 24-month deals.
Consumers Furious Over Unfair Price Jumps
Which? slams the practice as unfair—possibly illegal. Customers get hit with surprise charges and harsh exit fees, with no warning. Nearly 8 in 10 consumers told Which? they always consider mid-contract price hikes unfair.
Campaign Demands: Stop Price Hikes Now!
With Ofcom currently reviewing the issue, Which? urges broadband firms to scrap the 2024 hikes immediately. The “Right to Connect” campaign calls for a total ban on mid-contract price rises to protect customers.
“Consumers need certainty about their contract costs,” said Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy. “It’s time providers cancel the 2024 hikes and Ofcom bans these dodgy practices once and for all.”
