Sky and Virgin Media customers have urged others to push their broadband provider to reduce their bills, saying "it's worth the phone call". It comes as millions of broadband and mobile customers with various providers will be hit with price hikes this spring.
That's because providers can increase prices mid-contract by the rate of inflation, plus an extra amount on top - usually around four percentage points - which is set out in their terms and conditions, according to MoneySavingExpert. Almost all of the biggest providers use either the consumer prices index (CPI) figure for December 2022 or the retail prices index (RPI) rate for January 2023 in their price rise calculation.
This will lead to price hikes of up to 17.3 per cent - depending on your provider - this April. Unfortunately, most customers who are in contract can't leave or cancel without penalty as the rise would probably have been included in their contract.
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The two main exceptions to this are Sky broadband and home phone and Virgin Media broadband, home phone and TV packages, according to MSE. The consumer champion says the price hikes weren't written into these contracts, meaning you can leave within 30 days of being notified of the price rise without being penalised.
There would also be plenty of other customers who are out of contract and have simply been rolled onto another - usually pricier - rate without actually signing up for it. However, if you are beyond your minimum contract term, then you are free to shop around for a better deal, Birmingham Live reports.
If you're unhappy about paying more, you can try haggling with your provider to see if you can save money that way. Some customers have taken to social media to share how they managed to get their bill reduced by doing this as they encouraged people to do the same - and it can be as simple as making one phone call.
On popular Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains, where people often share money saving tips, one user, Adam Dunst, posted: "I signed up to broadband with Sky in May 2021 which was £28 a month, just the internet. Last year this went up to £32.50 a month.
"Again today I have received an email saying from the 1st April this is going up again by another £4 to £36.50 (just for internet). Quick call to Sky, I've managed to get it back down to £28 a month - refused to pay over £36 for internet. Always worth a phone call!"
Sharon Thompson replied: "I did the same with Virgin Media. Going up £12 in May. They have wavered the rise and also deducted £12 for March and April. Well worth the phone call."
In other posts, Bryn Penrose wrote: "I have been with Sky for 9 years now and I was really struggling with the cost so I gave them a ring and told them I can't afford to pay the bill of £100 a month and that Virgin had offered me a better deal. They reduced my bill by 35% and gave me broadband for £5 too!! It's well worth ringing them up."
And Michael Osborne shared: "Rang Virgin today having received an email informing me that the cost of my plan is shooting up by £7 a month. Upon ringing them, to my surprise the lady I spoke to offered me a knocked down price of £17 a month which is £7 a month cheaper then then the £24 I currently pay."
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