Simple Strategies to Reduce Your Mobile Bill
Millions of EE mobile and broadband customers could potentially avoid the April price hike, which could amount to an increase of up to £84 annually, by employing a straightforward tactic. The mobile and broadband provider is preparing to raise prices for approximately 25 million customers next month.
EE customers will experience in-contract price hikes this coming April, contributing to what many are calling ‘awful April,’ a month notorious for rising costs in energy, water, and council tax as well.
For customers who entered into their contracts after April 10, 2024, any price increases will be clearly outlined in pounds and pence as stipulated by new Ofcom regulations. However, those who signed contracts before this date will see their price increases linked to the rate of inflation. EE has confirmed that this April, customers on the older contract styles will face increases tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate of inflation plus an additional 3.9%, resulting in a total rise of 6.4%.
To put this into perspective, a mobile plan currently priced at £17 per month will increase by £1.09, bringing the new total to £18.09, which equates to an additional £13.08 per year. On a £36 monthly contract, the rise will be £2.30 per month, resulting in a new rate of £38.30, or an extra £27.60 annually. Similarly, broadband contracts priced at £27.99 and £34.99 will see increases of £21.48 and £26.88 per year, respectively.
For those who opted for new-style pounds and pence contracts, they should brace for monthly increases of about £1.50 for SIM-only plans or around £4 for handset plans. New broadband plans are also expected to see a rise of approximately £3 per month. Consequently, customers with both a new-style mobile plan and broadband could face an annual increase of £84.
Interestingly, many customers affected by these hikes have the opportunity to sidestep them altogether. Research conducted by Ofcom indicates that over 30% of telecom customers might be out of contract and, on average, are paying 15% more than necessary. This suggests that around 7.5 million of EE’s customers could be in a position to address these price increases.
If you’re out of contract but wish to remain with EE, now is the perfect time to negotiate.
EE Price Increases at a Glance
Effective from March 31, here’s a summary of the anticipated price increases for EE customers:
Contracts initiated after April 10, 2024
- SIM and airtime-only mobile: £1.50 per month, totalling £18 annually
- Handset plans mobile*: £4 per month, totalling £48 annually
- Broadband: £3 per month, totalling £36 annually
- TV: £2 per month, totalling £12 annually
Contracts initiated before April 10, 2024
- Your current mobile or broadband bill price + 6.4%
Mobile and broadband add-ons
- 5% increase for some packages of minutes, messages, data, or services
Out of bundle charges
- 5% increase on certain mobile and broadband charges not included in contracts, such as international calls
*Customers who signed new handset plan contracts between April 10 and September 9, 2024, will see an increase of £1.50 per month or £18 annually.
To determine how much your bill will increase, check your latest bill, log into your account, or visit: ee.co.uk/help/billing-payments/guide-to-bill/about-annual-prices-changes.
Before contacting your provider, do your homework and gather details on any cheaper alternatives available. If your request for a reduction is denied, inquire whether any extras, like additional data or minutes, could be included to enhance your deal.
If you’re open to switching providers, compare prices to find the best offer, with SIM-only mobile deals starting as low as £5. Keep in mind that if you are currently in a contract, leaving it prematurely may incur penalties. However, you can still attempt to negotiate a lower rate on your existing contract—there’s nothing to lose!
Some customers may be exempt from these price increases, particularly those on social tariffs. These affordable plans are tailored for individuals on low incomes or receiving benefits like Universal Credit and Pension Credit, and they come with no exit fees. For instance, EE Basics, the provider’s social tariff, will remain at £12 per month.
What Other Mobile and Broadband Providers Are Increasing Prices?
EE isn’t the only provider hiking prices in April; several others are also notifying customers about upcoming increases. Here’s what we know so far:
BT
BT, which owns both EE and Plusnet, announced that from March 2025, mobile contracts will see increases of £1.50 per month for SIM-only plans and £4 for handset plans. Broadband tariffs will increase by £3 per month, while TV prices will rise by £2. Vulnerable customers on BT Home Essentials contracts will be exempt from these increases. The pounds and pence rise will apply to contracts initiated from April 10, 2024, while older contracts will see a 6.4% increase based on inflation.
Plusnet
Plusnet will raise its broadband prices by £3 per month starting at the end of March for contracts signed after July 11, 2024. Contracts signed before this date will incur a 6.4% hike.
Vodafone
Vodafone mobile phone users will see their bills increase by £1.80 per month, while Home Broadband customers will experience a £3 hike. These increases will apply to contracts signed after July 2, 2024, while previous contracts will see inflation-linked price rises of 3.9% plus January’s inflation figure, which will be announced on February 19. Price increases will not affect financially vulnerable customers or those on social tariffs.
Three
Three has announced that broadband increases will be capped at £2, with mobile prices rising between £1 and £1.50 depending on the data allowance. These increases will apply to contracts signed after September 8, 2024, while earlier contracts will see a 6.4% increase.
O2
O2 mobile customers will face an increase of £1.80 for contracts initiated after January 9, 2025. Older contracts will see an inflation-linked price rise of 3.9% plus January’s inflation figure.
Virgin Media
Virgin Media customers will incur a £3.50 increase for contracts starting after January 9, 2025, with older contracts also facing inflation-linked increases.
Tesco Mobile
Tesco Mobile customers on a £14.99 monthly deal will see a £0.90 increase in April, while those on a £30 monthly deal will experience a £1.80 rise. These increases apply to contracts signed after December 17, 2024, while prior contracts will see a hike of 6.4%.
Sky
Sky has announced a 6.2% increase in broadband and TV bills starting from April 1. Although new Ofcom rules mandate that providers specify future price increases in pounds and pence, Sky’s increases are not inflation-linked, allowing them to proceed with a percentage rise. For instance, if you currently pay £39 per month for Sky TV, Netflix, and Full Fibre 150 broadband, your bill will rise by £2.42, bringing your total to £41.42. This increase will also apply to NOW Broadband, owned by Sky. Customers on a broadband and mobile social tariff will not see an increase, as Sky and NOW have frozen their tariffs. Out-of-contract Sky Mobile customers will see bills rise by £1.50 monthly, while those in contract will not experience any increase.
Ways to Save on Your Broadband and TV Bills
Here are some effective strategies to help you save on your broadband and TV bills:
Review Your Subscriptions
- If you subscribe to multiple on-demand services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Sky, evaluate whether you truly need all of them. You might even find that Freeview could meet your needs at no additional monthly cost for TV. Also, ensure you aren’t paying for Netflix twice through both Sky and a direct subscription.
Negotiate for a Discount
- If you wish to remain with your current provider, research pricing elsewhere to establish a benchmark. Then, contact customer service and express your intent to leave unless they can match or lower your bill.
Switch Providers and Save
- If you prefer not to stay with your current provider, investigate whether you can cancel your contract without penalty and switch to a more affordable option. Using a comparison site like BroadbandChoices or Uswitch can help you find the best deal at no cost.
If you have a financial concern that needs addressing, reach out by emailing [email protected].
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