Mobile, broadband & TV contracts - Don't renew yet

[FROSTYBALLS]

Retail Price Index (RPI) and other inflation-linked price increases are banned in new contracts for phone, broadband, and pay TV services starting January 17, 2025. This is due to new rules from Ofcom, the UK's industry regulator. 

The new rules require providers to:

• Provide clear information: Present price increases in pounds and pence, and when they will occur, at the point of sale.
• Avoid vague figures: No longer include price rise terms based on inflation or percentages in new contracts.
• Provide guidance: Ofcom will issue guidance to help providers comply with the new rules. 

Ofcom's decision is based on the belief that inflation-linked price increases make it difficult for customers to know what they will pay over the course of their contract. The new rules will help consumers make informed choices and choose the best deal for their needs.

This doesn't apply to new contracts entered into before 17th January, and for new contracts entered into before 17th, providers can still have mid-contract price increases based on Retail Price Index (RPI) + a percentage.

Effectively increases of more than the rate of inflation.

For example, Virgin Media e-mailed me today offering a new contract at an exclusive price. However, the new contract retains increases of the RPI + 3.9%. 

Other mobile, broadband and TV service providers will be trying the same thing!

So do not renew these contracts until or after 17th January 2025.

[Haliotis]

Typical.  So those customers already under contract get no protection from excessive increases.    I am with Virgin Media- have been for years - my current monthly payment is £35 per month - due to my intention to leave - but will increase to £69 per month in April 2025.

My cable is buried under an expensive driveway, and this has, in the past, dissuaded me from changing provider.  But Vodafone - whose offer forced my current payment onto V/M - advised me that they would simply take over the existing cable and no disturbance of my driveway would be necessary.  This has very much strengthened my attitude towards being ready to swap provider to get the best deal.

[Bper]

I recently canceled my contract with BT due to frequent price increases. I then took out a new contract in my wife’s name, which includes her mobile service with EE (now owned by BT), at a rate that is a third less than what we were originally paying.😀

[Haliotis]

The government have periodically stated their intention to push broadband widely to be available to most of the general public.  So, they must see it as an important factor in everyday life.  Accordingly, they should implement laws to protect users from excessive inflationary increases from the providers.  

[Cyker]

7 hours ago, Haliotis said:

Typical.  So those customers already under contract get no protection from excessive increases.    I am with Virgin Media- have been for years - my current monthly payment is £35 per month - due to my intention to leave - but will increase to £69 per month in April 2025.

My cable is buried under an expensive driveway, and this has, in the past, dissuaded me from changing provider.  But Vodafone - whose offer forced my current payment onto V/M - advised me that they would simply take over the existing cable and no disturbance of my driveway would be necessary.  This has very much strengthened my attitude towards being ready to swap provider to get the best deal.

They won't dig up your driveway if you leave, just to be clear - Half the time they won't even send an engineer, just a box for you to sent their equipment back and a terminator...! no not the I'll be Back kind of terminator, just a cap to screw onto the end of the coaxial cable so it doesn't mess up the connection of everyone else on the loop.

[Haliotis]

15 hours ago, Cyker said:

They won't dig up your driveway if you leave, just to be clear - Half the time they won't even send an engineer, just a box for you to sent their equipment back and a terminator...! no not the I'll be Back kind of terminator, just a cap to screw onto the end of the coaxial cable so it doesn't mess up the connection of everyone else on the loop.

What puzzles me is this:  Some time ago, further broadband gratings were set in the pavement outside our houses, and purple-coloured cable fed (I think) through existing underground pipe work.  The grating in front of our house is opposite our front door, and a long way from the V/M one.  I believe this new installation belongs to a firm called City Cable.  But, if other providers can take over the system (as Vodafone can from V/M), why install yet another cable system. This new one has no chance of being connected to our house.

[Flatcoat]

My EE contract for my iPhone 13 expires in 3 weeks. I have taken a 30 day SIM only deal with EE until I decide who best to go with next. That alone is reducing my bill by £70/month…….  O2 seems favourite coming as it does with European roaming included. 

[Heidfirst]

I have been with O2 sim only for years, tbh EE's network is better imo. This can, however, vary locally & of course in cost - it's up to you to check whether the service where you would use it meets your needs & at an acceptable cost.

[Big_D]

The last time I renewed my mobile contract I called them rather than doing it online. I managed to get a discount. With the new deal and discount I managed to reduce my bill by just under half 

[Trewithy]

When my phone contract with EE expired I looked at looked at my account on my phone and went to the pages that tell you how to leave EE.  Three days later I had a call from EE asking if I was leaving.  I said I was considering leaving as I could get more data etc at a lower price form other companies.  They made me an offer I couldn't refuse, now I have all the calls and data I could ever want for £6 a month.