General : Ofcom to ban inflation-linked mid-contract price rises on phones, pay-TV & broadband

[denphone]

Ofcom to ban inflation-linked mid-contract price rises on phones, pay-TV and broadband.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/ar...-and-broadband

From January 2025 providers will have to tell customers upfront in ‘pounds and pence’ about expected increases


Phone companies, broadband providers and subscription TV services will be banned from imposing inflation-linked price increases in the middle of contracts from next year, the telecoms regulator has confirmed.

[Hom3r]

they'll find away around it

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

they'll find away around it

Indeed they will just make the bills higher at the start.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Indeed they will just make the bills higher at the start.

Very true but at least customers will know what they will have to pay over the full period of their contract.

[Inactive Digital]

Now that inflation is roughly back to more normal levels, this looks like it will cost some consumers even more.

Example:
BT has said its sim only plans will rise by £1.50 each year. The cheapest sim only EE deal is £9, So thats a 17% increase. This year, under BT's CPI+3.9% it would have risen by 71p.

While I agree that inflation+ rises are too vague, Ofcom's ban risks disproportionately affecting low spenders who may be some of the least able to afford price rises. They should be banning mid-contract rises altogether.

[pip08456]

Any rise mid - during contract should be accompanied with free cancellation without charge.
Either that or ban contracts of more than 12 months. OFCOM has only given ISP's a more profitable way to lock profits in.

[daveeb]

Originally Posted by pip08456

Any rise mid - during contract should be accompanied with free cancellation without charge.
Either that or ban contracts of more than 12 months. OFCOM has only given ISP's a more profitable way to lock profits in.

That's it in a nutshell

[Legendkiller2k]

Companies are getting sneaky though by imposing 24 month contracts.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by Legendkiller2k

Companies are getting sneaky though by imposing 24 month contracts.

And customers can get sneaky by not taking them up on their kind offer....

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by Mr K

And customers can get sneaky by not taking them up on their kind offer....

Or ask for a longer contract in return for a better deal

Originally Posted by Mr K

And customers can get sneaky by not taking them up on their kind offer....

Kinda difficult if there are no alternatives.
(or the alternative is even more expensive).

[vincerooney]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

they'll find away around it

i remember the day Ofcom banned sky from purchasing all the premier league rights. think it was like 2008 or something.

we went from paying sky like twenty quid to then having to pay for about 3 different providers at one point

cheers Ofcom....ya jags

[jfman]

Originally Posted by vincerooney

i remember the day Ofcom banned sky from purchasing all the premier league rights. think it was like 2008 or something.

we went from paying sky like twenty quid to then having to pay for about 3 different providers at one point

cheers Ofcom....ya jags

That was the European Commission. There hasn't been any such requirement since 2014.

[Legendkiller2k]

Originally Posted by Mr K

And customers can get sneaky by not taking them up on their kind offer....

Then you will do without, but if you're in a good 5G coverage there is that alternative i think 3 are doing unlimited 5G home broadband for £24p/m.

Originally Posted by jfman

That was the European Commission. There hasn't been any such requirement since 2014.

What requirement are you referring to ?

For premier league atm, you would need Sky, TNT & Amazon to see all the televised matches.