Broadband rip off.

[Gibbo2286]

Just got a message saying my contract ends in May and inviting me to renew and upgrade.
This is the small print that seems to be getting added by all the providers:
*The monthly price for your broadband plan will increase each year from April 2023 by the rate of inflation (the Consumer Price Index rate, published in January each year) plus 3.7%. See talktalk.co.uk/legal for more information.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, they.ve been doing that for years Eric. Just get quotes and threaten to go elsewhere, I can almost guarantee they'll either match it or give you extra features for the same price / or a speed increase.

[Gibbo2286]

Yes, they.ve been doing that for years Eric. Just get quotes and threaten to go elsewhere, I can almost guarantee they'll either match it or give you extra features for the same price / or a speed increase.

TalkTalk have new owners I think, much less accommodating when I called them last time Marc.

[GiveMeABreak]

Oh, I'm with BT and they do the same rip off yearly CPI increases. Something needs to be done about getting more competition out there, BT still have too much power even though Open Reach is supposed to be independent, what with EE, Plusnet and a host of other companies that would fill this page.

[myglaren]

I'll have to have a look but I don't recall any increases from BT.

[GiveMeABreak]

Don't hold your breath Steve, BT's price increases are going to hit in March this year!

BT, which uses the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as measured by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in January (5.4%) plus 3.9 percent. That equates to a 9.3 percent increase

They won't be alone as Vodafone, Plusnet and EE are all doing it too, so for fibre that's likely to be anything from £50 to £150 a year extra and will likely go up again next year.

[mickthemaverick]

Following my dispute with Virgin last year over my broadband speed and a long investigative process I finally agreed a fixed price and minimum speed up to November 2022. Last month I had an email from them saying there would be an increase from April. I replied and pointed out the fixed deal which was agreed. I have yet to receive a reply, but whatever they try I'm not paying any more till December 2022!!

[GiveMeABreak]

Unfortunately, the contracts generally state the annual rises, so unless you get a 'manual' adjustment, it's likely to go up Mick. But stick with it.

These sorts of price hikes are not sustainable for many and I can see many cancellations as some people have to choose between energy, food or connectivity! It's all very well getting the Country super broadband speed-enabled, but they never seem to mention the cost of fibre which is going to be near the cost of your monthly electric bill at this rate I suspect!

[mickthemaverick]

As I said I have the agreement in writing for 18 months commencing may last year. Here is a redacted extract from the contract:

Own work

[GiveMeABreak]

Of course you're with Virgin. I have a feeling we not long renewed last year with BT, so may be locked in for another year at least before we can look around.

[Gibbo2286]

Starting to look like collusion/price fixing as they all seem to be doing the same, I wonder if ofcom will be taking a look.

[GiveMeABreak]

It's also the way a lot of software firms have been going for years now. One of our bespoke software suppliers increased their yearly maintenance and support contract the same way by putting on the same CPI uplift every year and then some. It's totally unacceptable when there are no additional perceived benefits to the end user. Therein lies the problem - it it's bespoke products or services they have you over a barrel as you can't just jump ship without a lot of inconvenience. It's a way for them to pay their staff increases and never have to worry about where the money comes from - as it's always going to be the end user. We need more suppliers and competition - it's the only way to drive prices down.

[myglaren]

Had a quick look and it is a bit confused.
Have records going back to 2006 and I was paying around £133 for broadband then.
More confusing was I was paying for the landline phone to Carphone Warehouse, except it was something else but swallowed up by them, possibly Mercury.
And then there were mobile phone charges to BT of around £10
And TalkTalk features in there too. I don't remember much of this.
But I now pay £67.61 for everything. I don't have a landline phone and rarely use the mobile as a phone, texts only.
The bill did increase horrendously when I bought the new phone as it had roaming data switched on by default. An extra 90p!

I should create a filter for the spreadsheet but it has been so long that I will likely obliterate all my bank records.