Martin Lewis has issued important advice to people who have mobile phones, urging them to do five things before the April price hike.
Speaking on the Martin Lewis Money Show, the consumer expert told viewers: "On around the beginning of April, many mobile bills are to rise up to a typical 17%. Even if you are mid contract, which is something that should be stopped, even including some of the big ones. It's not always this.
"So what do you do about it? Five steps." He said: "First text INFO on 85075 on your current phone, it's free to do, to find out if you're out of contract and free to leave."
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Martin urged people to pick up cheap SIM-only deals via price comparison websites. His third tip was to find a low-price network that uses the same signal.
There are only four main signal providers - O2, EE, Vodafone and Three - and cheaper rivals like Tesco and Giffgaff just piggyback on these, Mr Lewis said. Step four is to get your PAC code by texting 'PAC' to 65075.
This allows you to give the resulting code to a different network to request that your mobile number be moved across to the company you want to switch to to save cash. In his final tip, Martin said mobile customers can use a cheap deal as a benchmark to haggle, reports Birmingham Live.
Martin added: "When you go to them and that's where you get the better deal, if they say to you 'I'm sorry we will disconnect you, you say 'I just need to check that with my husband, wife or parrot." One Martin Lewis fan watching the show contacted the financial guru and explained he had swapped to a SIM only deal, saving £545 per year against their previous contract in the process.
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