Millions of mobile phone and internet users could be paying 17.3% more on their bills this time next week

Published

3 years ago

March 24, 2023

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Millions of mobile phone and internet users are facing a price increase of 17.3% on their bills in just a week’s time.

Every April, many broadband and mobile firms raise their prices in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus an additional 3-3.9%.

As these price rises are often applied mid-contract, people either have to accept these new prices or pay costly exit fees to leave their contract early.

But with some 11 million people out of contract, if they switch before the rise next week they would be exempt from the increase.

It comes as industry regulator Ofcom launched a review to determine if consumers have enough clarity on mid-contract cost increases.

Uswitch has also been campaigning to allow all consumers to leave contracts penalty-free in the face of price rises as most providers don’t allow this. The price comparison site believes providers who impose inflationary increases should allow customers to leave their contract early without penalty, or offer contracts where the price remains fixed for the duration.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch, said: “There is still time to avoid the impact of April’s price rises. Broadband and mobile customers should check now to see if they can switch to avoid paying more than they need to.

“Millions of consumers are currently out of contract, and therefore can still shield themselves from the brunt of these inflation-busting increases.

“Not only could you switch to a faster and more reliable product, but also pay less per month – although future price rises may still apply from 2024 in many cases.”

How to beat the broadband hikes from the experts at USwitch

1. If you are out of contract or coming to the end of your contract: Some providers will allow you to switch to a new deal this month to avoid mid-contract increases until 2024

2. If you are mid-contract: Check if you are eligible to switch and if there are any charges associated with switching. Even if there is a charge to switch, this may still offer you a saving in the longer term

3. If you can’t switch, sign up: Companies like Uswitch provide up-to-date consumer information on the mobile and broadband market. Sign up for the latest deals so you’re fully clued up on the market when you can switch in future

4. Check if you’re eligible for social tariffs: If you receive state benefits you may be eligible to sign up for social tariffs, designed to ensure everyone has access to modern-day utilities such as broadband. Major providers such as EE, Virgin and Vodafone offer connectivity from £12.00 with no set-up fees – and no mid-contract price increases

Who has the highest early exit fee?

Some internet companies have confirmed they will be doing more to help vulnerable and low-income households. For example, Vodaphone is automatically exempting customers that it has identified as financially vulnerable from this year’s price rises.

TalkTalk has said it will automatically exempt its most financially vulnerable customers – but did not explain its criteria for assessing this or how it would be publicised.

Providers know that for financially vulnerable customers, mid-contract price rises are potentially devastating – which is why their social tariffs offer fixed prices that are exempt from annual rises.

Based on the average amounts paid by low-income customers in Which?’s latest broadband survey, the consumer champion calculated how much a low-income BT, EE, Plusnet, TalkTalk or Vodafone customer (those earning £21,000 or less a year) could see their payments increase.

It found this group could see payments go up £77 per year. On average, they face a rise of £52 annually and look set to pay £431 a year for their broadband – at least 2% of their annual income.

BT customers had the highest monthly prices of any of the companies Which? looked at and could see an annual increase of almost £60 from next week. Low-income BT customers could also face the highest exit fees, costing £194.34 if they want to leave a year early.

Switching to a social tariff

Which? research shows that the average low-income customer affected by the price rise could save as much as £220.32 – £18.36 per month – by switching to a social tariff.

These are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and some other benefits.

They are delivered in the same way, just at a lower price. Some providers may call them “essential” or “basic” broadband.

BT customers would make the biggest annual saving of £260.16 (£21.68 a month) by switching to a social tariff. Vodafone customers would make the lowest savings of £168 a year (£14 a month).

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “Telecoms providers must urgently cancel the 2023 price hikes for financially vulnerable customers. They should work to proactively identify these customers and ensure they’re not financially penalised, even if they don’t take up a social tariff.”

Business

Bodycare to close 56 remaining stores – with nearly 450 to be made redundant

Published

6 hours ago

September 22, 2025

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Bodycare to close 56 remaining stores - with nearly 450 to be made redundant

High Street beauty chain Bodycare is to close its 56 remaining stores, resulting in 444 redundancies, administrators have said.

Last week it announced the closure of 30 shops, having collapsed into administration earlier this month.

A shortage of stock and the cost of running stores meant it was no longer viable to keep its 115 stores open, administrators said at the time.

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Business

Trump reveals Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch could be involved in TikTok deal

Published

15 hours ago

September 22, 2025

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Trump reveals Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch could be involved in TikTok deal

Donald Trump has revealed that media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan could be part of a deal in which TikTok in the United States will come under American control.

The US president also namedropped Michael Dell, the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, as a possible participant in the deal during an interview with Fox News, which is owned by the Murdochs.

“I think they’re going to be in the group. A couple of others. Really great people, very prominent people,” Mr Trump said. “And they’re also American patriots, you know, they love this country. I think they’re going to do a really good job.”

Mr Trump said that Larry Ellison, founder and CEO of software firm Oracle, was part of the same group. His involvement in the potential TikTok deal had previously been revealed.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Saturday that Oracle would be responsible for the app’s data and security, with Americans set to control six of the seven seats for a planned TikTok board.

This comes after Mr Trump said he and China’s Xi Jinping held a “very productive call” on Friday, discussing the final approval for the TikTok deal, much of which is still unknown.

Once confirmed, the deal should stop TikTok from being banned in the US after lawmakers decided it posed a security risk to citizens’ data.

Officials warned that the algorithm TikTok uses is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to push specific content on the social media platform in a way that is difficult to detect.

Congress had ordered the app shut down for American users by January 2025 if its Chinese owner ByteDance didn’t sell its assets in the country – but the ban has been delayed four times by President Trump.

Mr Trump said on Sunday that he might be “a little prejudiced” about TikTok, after telling reporters on Friday: “I wasn’t a fan of TikTok and then I got to use it and then I became a fan and it helped me win an election in a landslide.”

After the call with Mr Xi, Mr Trump said in a Truth Social post: “We made progress on many very important issues, including Trade, Fentanyl, the need to bring the War between Russia and Ukraine to an end, and the approval of the TikTok Deal.”

Mr Trump later told reporters at the White House that Xi had approved the deal, but said it still needed to be signed.

Representatives for the Murdochs, Mr Dell and Mr Ellison have not yet commented on a potential TikTok deal.

Business

Gatwick second runway given green light by government

Published

15 hours ago

September 22, 2025

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Gatwick second runway given green light by government

Gatwick’s second runway has been given the go-ahead by the government.

The northern runway already exists parallel to Gatwick‘s main one, but cannot be used at the same time, as it is too close.

It is currently limited to being a taxiway and is only used for take-offs and landings if the main one has to shut.

The £2.2bn expansion project will see it move 12 metres north so both can operate simultaneously, facilitating 100,000 extra flights a year, 14,000 jobs, and £1bn a year for the economy.

It would also mean the airport could process 75 million passengers a year by the late 2030s.

Gatwick is already the second busiest airport in the UK, and the busiest single runway airport in Europe.

No public money is being used for the expansion plan, which airport bosses say could see the new runway operational by 2029.

The expansion was initially rejected by the Planning Inspectorate over concerns about its provisions for noise prevention and public transport connections.

Campaigners also argued the additional air traffic will be catastrophic for the environment and the local community.

A revised plan was published by the planning authority earlier this year, which it said could be approved by the government if all conditions were met.

The government says it is now satisfied this is the case, with additions made including Gatwick being able to set its own target for passengers who travel to the airport by public transport – instead of a statutory one.

Nearby residents affected by noise will also be able to charge the airport for the cost of triple-glazed windows.

And people who live directly under the flight path who choose to sell their homes could have their stamp duty and estate agent fees paid for up to 1% of the purchase price.

CAGNE, an aviation and environmental group in Sussex, Surrey, and Kent, says it still has concerns about noise, housing provision, and wastewaster treatment.

The group says it will lodge a judicial review, which will be funded by local residents and environmental organisations.

‘Disaster for the climate crisis’

Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticised the second runway decision, posting on X: “Aviation expansion is a disaster for the climate crisis.

“Anyone who’s been paying any attention to this shambles of a Labour Govenrment (sic) knows they don’t care about people in poverty, don’t care about nature nor for the planet. Just big business & their own interests.”

Friends of the Earth claimed the economic case for the airport expansion has been “massively overstated”.

Head of campaigns Rosie Downes warned: “If we’re to meet our legally-binding climate targets, today’s decision also makes it much harder for the government to approve expansion at Heathrow.”

Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden welcomed the decision but said it “should have been made months ago”, claiming Labour have “dithered and delayed at every turn”.

“Now that Gatwick’s second runway has been approved, it’s crucial Labour ensures this infrastructure helps drive the economic growth our country needs,” he said.

A government source told Sky News the second runway is a “no-brainer for growth”.

“The transport secretary has cleared Gatwick expansion for take-off,” they said. “It is possible that planes could be taking off from a new full runway at Gatwick before the next general election.

“Any airport expansion must be delivered in line with our legally binding climate change commitments and meet strict environmental requirements.”