Broadband provider with 300,000 customers makes huge u-turn on bills and customers will pay more
A MAJOR broadband provider has made a u-turn on bills meaning customers will pay more.
Hyperoptic has ditched its no mid-contract price rise pledge meaning households will have to cough up more during their contract terms.
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The firm has spent the last few years campaigning to stop the practice which sees prices rise to keep up with inflation.
In early 2023, it launched a TV ad campaign calling out the pricing tactic.
However, it will now implement annual increases of £3 from April 2026 for customers joining after June 3 this year.
Lutfu Kitapci, chief technology officer and managing director of ISP at Hyperoptic, said: "For years, broadband consumers have had to deal with unknown price increases in the middle of their contract and we are proud to have campaigned and supported the ban of this unfair practice.
"Price changes however are not uncommon, for example after introductory pricing, discounted months and other offers."
He added existing customers will not be affected by the annual increase, unless they switch to a new contract.
Customers on a Fair Fibre plan, a cheaper package for those on benefits like Universal Credit and PIP, will also not see their prices rise mid-contract.
The changes mean that someone on a 24-month 150MB Superfast package living in North-East London will see their price rise from £19 a month to £22 a month next April.
From April 2027, this will rise a further £3 to £25 a month.
Meanwhile, a household in the same area choosing a 24-month 1GB Hyperfast deal will see the price rise from £25 a month now to £28 next April, then £31 from April 2027.
You can find out how much your package might rise by visiting hyperoptic.com/broadband/home/price-plans.
BROADBAND PRICE RISES
A host of broadband firms hiked prices for customers in March and April.
This included BT and EE Mobile and broadband customers, those with Three and Tesco Mobile customers.
For some customers, their contract prices rose by various measures of inflation plus a certain percentage.
However, other customers saw prices rise based on a new pounds and pence method introduced by regulator Ofcom.
For example, O2 customers who signed up for deals before January 9 this year saw their contracts hiked by January's RPI rate of inflation plus 3.9% on April 1.
But, those who agreed to a new SIM-only deal from January 9 onwards saw their contracts rise by £1.80.
Vodafone mobile phone customers who took out a new deal before July 2, 2024 saw their monthly costs go up based on the January CPI measure of inflation plus 3.9% on April 1.
However, anyone who took out a deal after this date will have seen their bill rise by a flat £3.
How to cut mobile and broadband costs
Check whether you can save potentially hundreds of pounds a year on your broadband by switching to a different provider.
Which? research found, on average, out-of-contract TV and broadband customers could save £160 by switching.
Meanwhile, TV and broadband customers who haggled with their current provider rather than switching saved £117 on average.
It's worth checking if you qualify for a social tariff as well, available to those on certain benefits like Universal Credit.
They're usually cheaper than standard broadband packages and could save you up to £456 a year.
Social tariffs are not just offered by broadband providers either - you can get them for mobile phones too.
You can find out the list of providers that offer either type of tariff on the Ofcom website.
If you're looking for a TV, broadband and phone deal, it can often work out cheaper buying a bundle package combining them all too.
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