BILL HIKE
Big broadband firm confirms hefty summer price hikes for thousands of customers – how much extra will you pay?
Keep scrolling to see how you can save on broadband and mobile contracts
A MAJOR broadband firm has confirmed hefty summer price hikes for thousands of customers.
NOW is once again increasing the price of three of its broadband products.
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Customers on its social broadband tariff won't see their prices change, but those signed up to its Fab Fibre, Super Fibre and Brilliant Broadband will.
Come July 4, prices are set to increase by £3 a month, which works out as an extra £36 a year.
A NOW spokesperson said: “We understand that price increases are never welcome. However, to continue improving and investing in our services, we need to adjust our pricing.
"Starting 4th July, the monthly cost of our NOW legacy Broadband products, including Fab Fibre, Super Fibre, and Brilliant Broadband plans, will increase by £3 each.”
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It's not the first time NOW customers have been met with increases to their monthly bill.
Those signed up for any of the three broadband packages were also told they must pay an extra £3 last year.
And this was on top of of a £3.50 hike back in July 2023.
It's important to remember that not every NOW customer will be impacted by the move.
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Customers on NOW's Full Fibre 100 tariff won't see their prices change.
Meanwhile, if you're signed up to a Now Broadband Basics tariff because you claim Universal Credit or other benefits, your prices will not change either.
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The tariff cost will remain fixed at £20 a month to help those on lower incomes.
If you are on one of the impacted contracts then there is still time to get out.
NOW customers have been told they can also exit their current contract within 31 days of being notified of a price increase without being charged a penalty.
Customers who are impacted will be contacted from the end of this month to let them know how the changes will impact their package.
How can I save money on my broadband and mobile contracts?
It is not uncommon to see your broadband or mobile contract increase.
This is typical because of pesky mid-term price hikes, which are written into a lot of broadband and mobile phone contracts.
These agreements mean that around April each year, providers can increase what they charge, usually in line with inflation plus an added percentage (for example, Consumer Prices Index inflation + 3.9%).
Since the start of this year, providers have been banned from doing this in percentage terms and will have to include an exact pounds and pence figure in your contract.
But this means customers still have to pay extra.
In the weeks before your contract is up, use comparison sites to familiarise yourself with the deals that are available.
It's a known fact that new customers always get the best deals.
Sites including MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch all help you customise your search based on price, speed and provider.
This should make it easier to decide whether to renew your contract or move to another provider.
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However, if you do not want to switch and are happy with the service you're getting under your current provider - haggle for a better deal.
You can still make significant savings by renewing your contract rather than rolling on to the tariff you're given after your deal.
TIPS BEFORE YOU SWITCH
By Laura McGuire, Consumer Reporter
If you’re struggling to pay for your phone or internet, talk to your provider.
Citizens Advice recommends the following:
Ask if they can offer you a cheaper deal. You can find their contact details on their website or on a letter from them.
You could tell your provider you're thinking of switching to a cheaper deal with a different provider.
Your provider might offer you a cheaper deal to get you to stay with them.
If you don’t want to stay with your current provider, find out if you’ll be charged an ‘exit fee’ to leave - check your contract or contact your provider.
You’ll usually be charged an exit fee if you want to leave before the end of a fixed-term contract.
This can be expensive, so it might be better to wait until your current contract ends.
You can check if you’ll be charged an exit fee to leave your mobile contract by texting the word ‘INFO’ to 85075. It’s free to text this number.
If you’re near the end of your contract, your provider should contact you to remind you. They’ll also let you know about their best available deals.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Facebook group to share your tips and stories
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