Millions of BT, EE, Plusnet, Shell, TalkTalk and Vodafone customers to be hit with price hikes of up to 9.3% - here's all you need to know
Millions of BT, EE, Plusnet, Shell, TalkTalk and Vodafone customers will be hit with price hikes of up to 9.3% this spring on the back of a sharp increase in the cost of living. For many, this year's hikes are more than double last year's. We've full info and a handy table below on what's happening and who's affected.
Update Wednesday 9 March: Shell Energy has announced that its planned price hike for broadband and home phone customers has been postponed until at least 1 July 2022 for all customers - though it couldn't give an exact date as to when this will come in.
If you're impacted, you may also want to read our guide on How to find cheap broadband deals, as well as use our Broadband Unbundled and Cheap Mobile Finder tools if you're now thinking of switching - just check for any early exit penalties first.
In addition, Sky has announced hikes to its broadband, mobile, TV and home phone services by an average of £43 a year, while O2, Three and Virgin Mobile will hike prices by up to 11.7%. Virgin Media customers are also set to be hit with a price hike in March.
Here's how much prices will rise by
The table below shows when any rises will take place and how much they will increase by for each provider, depending on what product you have and when you signed your contract.
Providers | How much prices will rise by | When hikes come in |
|---|---|---|
BT | ||
All users who signed up after 31 August 2020, or users who will be out of contract before 31 Mar 22 | 9.3% | 31 Mar 22 |
Broadband users who signed up before 1 Sept 20 and who will be in contract after Mar 22 | 5.4% | 31 Mar 22 |
Home Essentials, Basic and Home Phone Saver, which are packages for those receiving benefits | No price rise | N/A |
BT Sport Monthly Pass and BT Sport via Sky without BT broadband | No price rise | N/A |
EE | ||
All broadband users | 9.3% | 31 Mar 22 |
Mobile users who signed up after 31 Aug 2020 or who will be out of contract before 31 Mar 22 | 9.3% | 31 Mar 22 |
Mobile users who signed up before 1 Sept 20 and who will be in contract after 31 Mar 22 | 7.5% | 31 Mar 22 |
Plusnet | ||
Users who signed up after 6 Oct 20 | 9.3% | 31 Mar 22 |
Users who signed up before 7 Oct 20 | 9.3% | 31 Mar 22 |
Shell | ||
Broadband or home phone users who signed up before 4 Oct 21 | 5.4% | TBC |
Broadband or home phone users who signed up after 3 Oct 21 | TBC | 1 Apr 22 |
TalkTalk | ||
Broadband and home phone users (barring exclusions below) | 9.1% | 1 Apr 22 |
Fixed Price Plus customers out of minimum contract period (2) | 5.4% | 1 Apr 22 |
Customers classed as vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with physical or mental disabilities (3) | No price change | N/A |
Vodafone | ||
Mobile, tablet or smart watch users who signed up after 8 Dec 20 | 9.3% | 1 Apr 22 |
Home broadband users who signed up after 1 Feb 21 | 9.3% | 1 Apr 22 |
Mobile, tablet or smart watch users who signed up before 9 Dec 20 | TBC | 1 Apr 22 |
Home broadband users who signed up before 2 Feb 21 | TBC | 1 Apr 22 |
(1) Applies to both airtime and device plans, though Evo customers will only see the rise on airtime plans.
(2) TalkTalk originally told us all Fixed Price Plus customers, even those within their minimum contract period, would see a price rise of 5.4%. This is incorrect, only those out of their minimum contract period will see a price rise.
(3) TalkTalk said that vulnerable customers not impacted by the price rise will receive a letter letting them know, however if you think you should be classed as vulnerable, get in touch with TalkTalk to let them know. It added that whether a customer is classed as vulnerable is decided on a case-by-case basis.
Millions of customers are out of contract and free to leave, so check if you can switch and save
These firms have millions of customers who are out of contract and have simply been rolled on to often pricier tariffs without signing up for them. But if that's you, you can leave at any point penalty-free - and given the best broadband and mobile deals tend to be for newbies, there's a good chance you're overpaying anyway. Benchmark prices elsewhere and switch if you can get a cheaper deal.
See full help in our How to find cheap broadband deals guide and use our Broadband Unbundled and Cheap Mobile Finder tools to see what other deals are out there.
Alternatively, if you're willing to stay, you can try haggling and see if your provider will match or beat a deal you've found elsewhere. See our broadband haggling and mobile haggling guides for more help.
Within your minimum contract term? You CAN'T cancel penalty-free
If you're in contract - meaning you actively signed up to a new tariff within the last year or possibly two (do check) - the price rise will likely be part of that contract and sadly you won't be able to cancel penalty-free.
But if you're unhappy with the price rise, you should note when your contract's due to end and start looking for new deals nearer the time.
Share this guide?
10 December 2024
Clever ways to calculate your finances
