Mid-contract price rises: tightening the squeeze on consumers

Mid-contract price rises: tightening the squeeze on consumers  999 KB

More than 13 million people could be facing an extra £100 on their mobile and broadband bills in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. We’ve found that 9 in 10 broadband customers and 7 in 10 mobile customers could be hit with mid-contract price rises next year. 

With inflation spiralling, this could cost consumers over £2.5bn next year, at a time when many are struggling to make ends meet. 

• 1 in 3 mobile and broadband customers facing price hikes have already cut back on essentials like food, energy and clothing, to make ends meet. 

• Nearly 1 in 5 customers facing price hikes had to rely on credit to cover essentials in the first half of 2022. 

• 1 in 4 customers didn’t know that prices could rise mid-contract, and a further 2 in 5 knew they could rise, but not by how much. 

We’re asking providers to cancel mid-contract price rises to protect consumers during the cost-of-living crisis. In the longer-term, Ofcom and Government should explore options for banning this practice altogether.