RPI + 3.9%

Author
Discussion

Cryssys

Original Poster:

544 posts

45 months

Wednesday 28th February
quotequote all
Just been advised that my mobile phone plan will rise by 8.8% in April.

This is on top of a rise of 11.9% in April 22 and 17% in April 23. How these inflationary rises can be justified is beyond me, we're being ripped off but there's nothing we can do about it as all the major operators apply the same formula.

Seems to me this is a price fixing cartel and if the government is serious about controlling inflation these companies should be subject to investigation and/ or regulation. They bang on about controlling wages to limit inflation but are happy to stand back and let private companies increase their prices by inflation plus 3.9%.

How can that be?

911Spanker

1,880 posts

23 months

Wednesday 28th February
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Even MX5 prices have risen.

cuprabob

15,711 posts

221 months

Wednesday 28th February
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The fundamental issue seems to be that OFCOM seem to be in bed with the companies rather than looking after the interests of the consumer. It's not just OFCOM, it also applies to OFGEN, just look at the increase in standing charges as an example.

Hammersia

1,564 posts

22 months

Wednesday 28th February
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Don't think Giffgaff has changed, quite happy with it and not sure what I'm missing out on.

randlemarcus

13,599 posts

238 months

Wednesday 28th February
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These rises annoy me enough to renegotiate based on predicted data usage and roaming every time now, whereas before I was happy enough to pay for unlimited contracts. Makes a tiny difference to overall outgoings for me, but has cut my payments to them by 50%. Slow applause, Vodafone shareholders...

DanL

6,437 posts

272 months

Wednesday 28th February
quotequote all
O2 are up by 4.9% from the email I got this morning… It’s about an 80p a month increase, so I’m not too concerned. biggrin

alangla

5,201 posts

188 months

Wednesday 28th February
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Some operators still do contracts with prices frozen for life. If enough people walk then this nonsense will end soon enough

Chris Type R

8,142 posts

256 months

Wednesday 28th February
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Hammersia said:
Don't think Giffgaff has changed, quite happy with it and not sure what I'm missing out on.
Likewise - been with them for years now and they seem to be very good VFM.

Rufus Stone

8,256 posts

63 months

Wednesday 28th February
quotequote all
Cryssys said:
Just been advised that my mobile phone plan will rise by 8.8% in April.

This is on top of a rise of 11.9% in April 22 and 17% in April 23. How these inflationary rises can be justified is beyond me, we're being ripped off but there's nothing we can do about it as all the major operators apply the same formula.

Seems to me this is a price fixing cartel and if the government is serious about controlling inflation these companies should be subject to investigation and/ or regulation. They bang on about controlling wages to limit inflation but are happy to stand back and let private companies increase their prices by inflation plus 3.9%.

How can that be?
They do all seem to operate the same charging structure, with the exception to O2 I think who use RPI instead of CPI. It does appear something the authorities should look into.

Oliver Hardy

3,001 posts

81 months

Wednesday 28th February
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ID Mobile £12 a month 120GB of data, unlimited calls and text, free European roaming, not gone up at all!

cuprabob

15,711 posts

221 months

Wednesday 28th February
quotequote all
DanL said:
O2 are up by 4.9% from the email I got this morning… It’s about an 80p a month increase, so I’m not too concerned. biggrin
Not received my email from O2 yet but isn't it 4.9% + 3.9% (8.8%)?

S600BSB

6,121 posts

113 months

Wednesday 28th February
quotequote all
Chris Type R said:
Hammersia said:
Don't think Giffgaff has changed, quite happy with it and not sure what I'm missing out on.
Likewise - been with them for years now and they seem to be very good VFM.
Me too.

sugerbear

4,538 posts

165 months

Wednesday 28th February
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Hammersia said:
Don't think Giffgaff has changed, quite happy with it and not sure what I'm missing out on.
ID mobile dont charge an annual increase during the life of the contract. Network is three and includes EU roaming as well. I dont miss EE who by the end of my contract were price gouging at the end of my contract and charging extra for roaming.

equivilent phone and contract on EE was about £25 more than through ID mobile.

Rufus Stone

8,256 posts

63 months

Wednesday 28th February
quotequote all
Oliver Hardy said:
ID Mobile £12 a month 120GB of data, unlimited calls and text, free European roaming, not gone up at all!
What network do they use?

OutInTheShed

9,381 posts

33 months

Wednesday 28th February
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To be fair, the companies are investing a lot in 5G and so on,
It 's not exactly a case of Vodafone PLC printing money and their shares being through the roof.

I'll be paying about £15, for unlimited calls, and more mobile internet than I need.
Which is about what I was paying 12 years ago for the minimum deal of voice and text?

Don't forget, a big slice of your bill is effectively tax, paid to the government in the name of 'spectrum licensing'.

pavarotti1980

5,464 posts

91 months

Wednesday 28th February
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Since O2 are now with Virgin Media get a double whammy with their RPI+3.9% (8.8%) figure in the same month. If the 17% wasnt already a pisstake

This mid contract price rise practice is surely a massive con and needs investigating

Edit: Ofcom have already stated the % increase will be banned but not until after their publication in Spring 2025

Kermit power

29,472 posts

220 months

Wednesday 28th February
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Here's a fun little calculation for you...

The average monthly take home in the UK is £2,297.

If we assume that average monthly salary is going to increase by 2% per annum on average - when do wages ever truly increase by much more? - and that a current £25 per month mobile bill is going to increase by an average of 7% per annum, then in just under 97 years from now, it will take the entire monthly salary of the average British worker to pay a mobile phone bill! hehe

cuprabob

15,711 posts

221 months

Wednesday 28th February
quotequote all
Rufus Stone said:
Oliver Hardy said:
ID Mobile £12 a month 120GB of data, unlimited calls and text, free European roaming, not gone up at all!
What network do they use?
I believe it's Three

legless

1,796 posts

147 months

Wednesday 28th February
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I get around this by having a 12 month SIM only contract that expires in April.

They announce the price rise. It never happens - I take out a new deal at the same or lower cost than I was already paying.

Currently on a 32GB/month plan with O2 for £8/month. Looks like I'll be able to get similar when I re-contract next month.

essayer

9,629 posts

201 months

Wednesday 28th February
quotequote all
It's because everyone pays it