Easy way millions of EE mobile and broadband customers could avoid £84 a year hike
MILLIONS of EE mobile and broadband customers could avoid April’s price hike of up to £84 a year with this simple trick.
The mobile and broadband provider is set to increase prices for 25million of its customers next month.
The increase will bring further misery to ‘awful April’ when households also see energy, water and council tax bills increase.
EE customers who signed up to their contracts after April 10 2024 will see their price increases set out in pounds and pence within their contract, in line with new rules from Ofcom.
But, those who signed up to deals before this date will see price increases linked to the rate of inflation.
EE has confirmed that this April prices for those on the old-style contracts will increase by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate of inflation, plus 3.9% – resulting in a rise of 6.4%.
So, a mobile deal currently costing £17 a month will increase by £1.09 to £18.09, or by £13.08 a year.
On a £36 a month contract it’s an increase of £2.30 a month, taking it to £38.30, or £27.60 a year.
Meanwhile, broadband contracts costing £27.99 and £34.99 a month will rise by £21.48 and £26.88 a year respectively.
Those who signed up for new-style pounds and pence contracts are likely to see monthly £1.50 increases if they are on a SIM-only deal, or a £4 monthly increase for a handset plan.
New style broadband plans are likely to see prices increase by £3 a month.
So, those with a new-style handset mobile plan and broadband plan will be facing a combined increase of £84 a year.
All customers on these contracts will be able to check their exact price increases of bills.
EE has also said that some add-ons and out-of-bundle fees, across both mobile and broadband packages will be subject to 5% increases.
But, many of those impacted by the cost increases can avoid them.
Research by Ofcom has suggested that more than 30% of telecoms customers are likely to be out of contract, and that on average they’ll be paying 15% more than they need to.
This means 7.5million of EE’s customers could be out of contract and able to tackle the price increases.
If you’re out of contract but want to stay with EE then it’s time to haggle.
EE BILL HIKES AT A GLANCE
From March 31, here's how much more EE customers will pay:
Contracts taken out after April 10, 2024
- SIM and airtime-only mobile: £1.50 a month, £18 a year
- Handset plans mobile*: £4 a month, £48 a year
- Broadband: £3 a month, £36 a year
- TV: £2 a month, £12 a year
Contracts taken out 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 part of contracts such as calls to and from abroad
*Customers who took out new handset plan contracts between April 10 and September 9, 2024 will pay £1.50 more a month, or £18 a year
To see how much your bill will rise by check your bill, log in to your account, or go to: ee.co.uk/help/billing-payments/guide-to-bill/about-annual-prices-changes
Before speaking to the provider do your research and come prepared with details of any cheaper deals available.
If your request is refused ask if any extras, such as data or minutes, could be thrown in to sweeten the deal.
If you’re happy to switch then shop around for the best price and consider moving to a SIM-only mobile deal, which can start from just £5.
If you are in contract you won’t be able to leave your contract without incurring a penalty.
But, you can still try to haggle down the price of your contract – there’s nothing to lose.
Some customers will be exempt from any rises, including those on social tariffs.
These are cheaper deals designed for those in low incomes and benefits like Universal Credit and Pension Credit and have no exit fees.
So EE Basics, the provider’s social tariff, will continue to cost £12 a month.
What other mobile and broadband bills are rising?
It’s not just EE hiking prices in April as a handful of providers are telling customers of increases.
Here’s what we know so far…
BT
BT, which also owns EE and Plusnet, said that from March 2025, the price of mobile contracts will rise by £1.50 a month (SIM-only) or £4 (handset plans).
Broadband tariffs will go up by £3 a month and £2 for TV.
But, the provider has assured vulnerable customers on BT Home Essentials contracts that they will be exempt from any price rises.
The pounds and pence rise will apply to contracts taken out from April 10, 2024.
For those who took out a deal before this, a 6.4% rise will apply (3.9% and January’s inflation rate, which was 2.5%).
Plusnet will also increase its broadband price by £3 per month from the end of March for contracts taken out after July 11, 2024.
For contracts started prior to this date, a 6.4% hike will apply.
Vodafone
Vodafone mobile phone customers will see their bills rise by £1.80 a month while Home Broadband customers will see prices hiked by £3.
These pounds and pence rises will apply to contracts taken out after July 2, 2024.
For bills prior to this date an inflation linked price rise of 3.9% plus January’s inflation figure will apply. This rate is due to be announced on February 19.
The new prices will apply from April 1.
Vodafone has said that price increases will not be applied to customers who are identified as financially vulnerable or those on social tariffs.
For Vodafone broadband customers bills will rise by £3 on contracts taken out after July 22, 2024.
For those taken out prior to then, an inflation linked price rise of 3.9% plus January’s inflation figure will apply. This rate is due to be announced on February 19.
Three
Three has said broadband increases will be capped at £2 and mobile prices between £1 and £1.50 depending on the data allowance.
The pounds and pence rises will apply for contracts taken out after September 8, 2024.
For those before rises are set at 6.4% (3.9% and January’s inflation rate, which was 2.5%).
02
Customers of 02 mobile will pay £1.80 more on contracts started after January 9, 2025.
For those taken out before, an inflation linked price rise of 3.9% plus January’s inflation figure will apply. This rate is due to be announced on February 19.
Virgin Media
Customers of Virgin Media will pay £3.50 more on contracts started after January 9, 2025.
For those taken out before, an inflation linked price rise of 3.9% plus January’s inflation figure will apply. This rate is due to be announced on February 19.
Tesco Mobile
Tesco Mobile said someone on a £14.99 a month a deal would see their monthly contract price increase by 90p in April.
While, customers on a £30 a month deal will see their basic monthly price increase by £1.80.
That’s for contracts taken out after December 17, 2024. On those before this date, prices will rise 6.4% (3.9% and January’s inflation rate, which was 2.5%).
Sky
Sky said this week broadband and TV bills will rise by 6.2% from April 1.
While the new Ofcom rules require providers to specify future price rises in pounds and pence upfront, it only applies if they are linked to inflation.
Sky’s are not, so it can go ahead with a percentage increase.
For example, if you currently pay £39 per month for Sky TV, Netflix, and Full Fibre 150 broadband, your bill will increase by £2.42, bringing the total to £41.42 a month.
The same rises will apply to NOW Broadband, which is owned by Sky.
If you’re on a broadband and mobile social tariff, you won’t see an increase to your bills because Sky and Now has frozen its tariffs.
Out of contract Sky Mobile customers will see bills rise by £1.50 a month.
Those in contract won’t see a rise.
How to save on broadband and TV bills
HERE'S how to save money on your broadband and TV bills:
Audit your subscriptions
If you’ve got multiple subscriptions to various on-demand services, such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Sky consider whether you need them all.
Could you even just get by with Freeview, which couldn’t cost you anything extra each month for TV.
Also make sure you’re not paying for Netflix twice via Sky and directly.
Haggle for a discount
If you want to stay with your provider, check prices elsewhere to set a benchmark and then call its customer services and threaten to leave unless it price matches or lowers your bill.
Switch and save
If you don’t want to stay with your current provider check if you can cancel your contract penalty free and switch to a cheaper provider.
A comparison site, such as BroadbandChoices or Uswitch, will help you find the best deal for free.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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