Customers with the four major UK mobile networks EE, Vodafone, Three and O2 have been warned to brace for higher prices from April 1 – even if you are mid-contract.
A new rule put in place by communications regulator Ofcom earlier this year banned mid-contract price rises linked to inflation percentages for new contracts, and instead is forcing firms to set out how much prices will increase with a ‘pounds and pence’ figure at the contract’s outset. What Ofcom didn’t do is ban mid-contract price hikes, so your prices will still increase every April even if you signed a contract at a lower price, but the amount will be made clear with a monetary figure instead of a percentage when you take out the deal.
What adds extra complication is that those on older contracts signed in 2024 will still be subject to percentage price rises this April.
As a result, prices are going up for Vodafone, EE, O2 and Three customers, but the exact amount depends on when you took out your contract.
Here’s every mobile firm and their price rises depending on contract dates:
Vodafone
Anyone that signed up to a Vodafone contract, or upgraded, on or after July 2, 2024, will pay a fixed rate of £1 extra per month for ‘basic’ mobile plans, £1.80 extra per month for other pay-monthly mobile plans, or £3 extra per month for home broadband. Those on the older contracts face a 6.4% rise.
O2
Customers that are on pay-monthly and Sim-only mobile plans will pay an extra £1.80 per month from April, while those on Smartwatch Plans and Data only will pay an extra £0.75p per month. If you have a device-only plan, are on pay-as-you-go, or on O2 Essential then you won’t see any price rises from April.
O2 has also warned that out of bundle charges will increase by 5% each year from April 1 and advised customers to check its Extra Charges guide for current pricing information.
EE
EE has listed its price rises from March 31, up to £4 a month for those with a handset on their phone contract.
It said: “From April 2024, annual prices changes will be in pounds and pence, so you can have certainty when it comes to the cost of our products and services from year to year.
“Any planned increases will be set out in pounds and pence and will be applied each 31 March, starting in 2025. These will apply to new and existing customers who take out new contracts from 10 April 2024 and be clearly shown when customers sign up or renew their contract.”
Those who are SIM only will see a £1.50 per month price rise from March 31, or £18 a year, while those with a handset on their contract face a £4 a month price rise, or £48 a year.
Those with connected devices such as a laptop or tablet will see a £1.50 rise, and broadband will go up by £3 a month, while EE TV is going up by £2 a month.
Those who signed up to their contract before April 2024 will still pay the old increases based on percentages.
EE added: “So, for example, if you take out a new SIM Only mobile plan at £25 per month on a 24-month contract, your price will be £26.50 per month from 31 March 2025, and then £28 per month from 31 March 2026.
“If you don’t change contracts, then the old system of an increase based on the variable Consumer Price Index (CPI), plus 3.9% will still apply.
“For example, in 2024, the CPI rate that we used to calculate our price change was 4%, so the total increase was 7.9%, based on the previous method.”
Three Mobile
Those with Three face a rise of £1 to £1.50 per month, though customers who joined before September 2024 will still pay a 4.5% increase.
It said: “If you joined or upgraded your phone, SIM Only, Mobile Broadband or Home Broadband plan on or after 8th September 2024 your Monthly Charge will increase each April by [a] fixed amount depending on your plan’s data allowance.
“Plans 4GB or less and Smartwatch Pairing Plans will increase by £1 per month.
“Plans between 5GB and 99GB will increase by £1.25 per month.
“Plans 100GB or over and Mobile Broadband plans will increase by £1.50 per month. All Home Broadband plans will increase by £2 per month.
“If you’re a Three Your Way customer, the increase will only apply to your Monthly Charge for your airtime plan. Any device payments, if applicable, will not be affected by the increase.”
For customers who joined Three before September 2024, they will see their charges increase based on inflation percentages plus 3.9% on top.
Three explains: “If you joined or upgraded your phone, SIM Only, Mobile Broadband or Home Broadband plan after 1st November 2022 your Monthly Charge will increase each April by the preceding December CPI rate +3.9%.”
It added: “Similar to many other mobile providers, our Pay Monthly plans are subject to an annual price change.
“These increases reflect inflationary pressures we are facing as a business including energy prices, supplier increases, and increased staffing costs. The new pricing structure has been designed to ensure that increases for customers are fair and based on a customer’s data allowance, rather than a blanket approach that applies the same rise regardless of what a customer is paying currently.
“Despite this change, our prices remain some of the most competitive in the market and we have a range of support, including a social tariff via SMARTY, available for customers struggling with their finances.”
