Latest news with #EE
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BT refunds £18m to customers over contract failures
BT has refunded £18 million to customers after Ofcom ruled it did not give them enough information about their contracts. The regulator fined BT £2.8 million last year after it failed to provide some EE and Plusnet customers with 'clear and simple' contract information before signing up to a new deal. Since June 2022, phone and broadband companies have been required to give consumers and small businesses the details of a contract, as well as a short summary of the key terms, before signing up. This includes the price and length of the contract, the speed of the service and any early exit fees. Ofcom opened an investigation into BT, which owns EE and Plusnet, having received information it may have failed to provide the documents. It found more than 1.3 million sales were made without providing customers with the adequate information. At least 1.1 million customers were affected. Ofcom found the telecoms giant broke consumer protection rules, requiring BT to contact affected customers, explaining it had not provided them with the necessary information. However, some affected customers left BT before the end of their contract and may have been charged an early exit fee, according to Ofcom. In a statement, Ofcom said: 'As well as fining BT, we also required it to amend its sales process and refund any affected customers who may have been charged for leaving before the end of their contract period. We told the company that if it was unable to refund any money, it must donate it to charity. 'As a result of this enforcement action, BT has now refunded or credited £18 million back to customers and donated £440,000 across 17 charities where refunds or credits were not possible.' A BT spokesman said: 'We're sorry that pre-contract information and contract summary documents were not available to some of our customers in a timely manner. 'We have taken steps to proactively contact affected customers and refund them if they had subsequently paid any early termination charges. We take compliance seriously at BT and have worked closely with Ofcom to implement all remedial actions.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gary Neville, YouTube and online protections
In today's episode of the Sky News Business Podcast, Darren McCaffrey speaks to former Manchester United and England footballer-turned-business-owner Gary Neville about the government's national insurance rise. Darren also discusses YouTube becoming the second most-watched TV service in the UK. And he chats to the chief executive of EE about what the mobile network's doing to comply with the Online Safety Act. :: Listen and subscribe to the .
Sky News
3 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News
Gary Neville, YouTube and online protections
In today's episode of the Sky News Business Podcast, Darren McCaffrey speaks to former Manchester United and England footballer-turned-business-owner Gary Neville about the government's national insurance rise. Darren also discusses YouTube becoming the second most-watched TV service in the UK. And he chats to the chief executive of EE about what the mobile network's doing to comply with the Online Safety Act.
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
BT announces annual price hike for many customers starting before August 1
BT is to reveal a change in the amount it will hike prices for some customers from tomorrow, July 31, 2025, after a new Ofcom rule came into force BT is set to alter how much it increases customers' bills mid-contract, with charges due to climb by £4 annually for fresh customers. From tomorrow, July 31, 2025, any new customers signing up for broadband packages from BT, EE or Plusnet will face a £4 price hike on March 31, 2026 and another £4 on March 31, 2027. The announcement arrives in the same week Ofcom revealed that BT had paid out £18 million to customers it had failed to provide adequate contract information to. The yearly price increases had previously been fixed at £3, meaning the jump to £4 represents a surge of 33.3 per cent, reports the Express. These changes were initially reported by ISPreview. "We are very supportive of Ofcom's requirement to show upfront pounds and pence charges," a BT Consumer spokesperson told "EE was the first provider to introduce this pricing model, offering EE customers a predictable long-term view of their contract terms. Our pricing approach is designed to be clear for our customers." Under fresh regulations, BT isn't opting to be clearer in how it displays long-term pricing, as it has been compelled to by UK regulator Ofcom, alongside all other internet and phone service providers. Earlier this year, Ofcom amended the rules for broadband and mobile providers regarding mid-contract price increases. Providers must now clearly state to customers by exactly how much their contract prices will rise in pounds and pence, and when, whilst advertising products. Mid-contract price increases have been a common practice for many years, but it was considered that they were not previously communicated to customers with sufficient clarity, leading to bill shock for numerous Brits. ISPreview published what it says, citing BT, are the exact amount BT prices will rise annually with contracts taken out on or after July 31, 2025, and stated by exactly how much depending on what product is purchased: Mobile Flex Pay airtime plan +£2.50 Sim only +£2.50 Bundled handset and airtime plans +£4 Mobile broadband dongles – £1.50 Connected devices including Laptops, Tablets, Smartwatches +£1.50 per month Broadband (including hubs that use a 4G/5G sim) +£4 per month Out of bundle services will also increase by 5% on 31st March each year It's understood these changes apply to BT, EE and Plusnet plans. 'We continue to invest in our business, building on 11 years as the best network to better serve our customers with a reliable and quality connection as we roll out the fastest speed technology to 30m homes by the end of the decade,' the BT spokesperson said. 'We're focused on providing value and customer satisfaction, making new technologies available to our customers such as 5G standalone and WiFi 7.'
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
BT broadband prices to rise for some by exact amount tomorrow in big new change
BT is to alter the amount it hikes some customer bills in what will amount to a rise of a third for some people BT is set to change its approach to mid-contract price hikes, with new customers facing an annual increase of £4. Starting from tomorrow, July 31, 2025, any fresh sign-ups for broadband packages from BT, EE or Plusnet will see a £4 rise on March 31, 2026, and another £4 hike on March 31, 2027. This update coincides with the week Ofcom confirmed that BT had compensated customers with £18 million due to failing to provide sufficient contract information. Previously, the annual price rises were pegged at £3, meaning the new £4 increase marks a significant 33.3 percent jump. This development was initially revealed by ISPreview. A BT Consumer spokesperson expressed their support for Ofcom's transparency initiative to saying: "We are very supportive of Ofcom's requirement to show upfront pounds and pence charges," adding, "EE was the first provider to introduce this pricing model, offering EE customers a predictable long-term view of their contract terms. Our pricing approach is designed to be clear for our customers." However, it's worth noting that BT's move towards clearer long-term pricing isn't entirely voluntary. It comes as a direct result of new regulations imposed by UK regulator Ofcom, which now apply to all internet and phone service providers, reports the Express. Earlier in the year, Ofcom revised its guidelines for broadband and mobile providers over mid-contract price increases. The updated rules mandate providers to clearly inform customers about the exact amount – in pounds and pence – their contract prices will go up, including the specific timing of these changes, when advertising their products. Mid-contract price hikes have been a thorn in the side of many Brits for years, but it turns out they weren't always made crystal clear to customers, leading to unexpected and unwelcome surprises on their bills. 'Exact amount' BT prices will rise ISPreview published what it says, citing BT, are the exact amount BT prices will rise annually with contracts taken out on or after July 31, 2025, and stated by exactly how much depending on what product is purchased: Mobile Flex Pay airtime plan +£2.50 Sim only +£2.50 Bundled handset and airtime plans +£4 Mobile broadband dongles – £1.50 Connected devices including Laptops, Tablets, Smartwatches +£1.50 per month Broadband (including hubs that use a 4G/5G sim) +£4 per month Out of bundle services will also increase by 5% on 31st March each year It's understood these changes apply to BT, EE and Plusnet plans. 'We continue to invest in our business, building on 11 years as the best network to better serve our customers with a reliable and quality connection as we roll out the fastest speed technology to 30m homes by the end of the decade,' the BT spokesperson said. 'We're focused on providing value and customer satisfaction, making new technologies available to our customers such as 5G standalone and WiFi 7.'
