Broadband and mobile firms pledge to stop unexpected bill increases

Major broadband and mobile providers have signed a government telecoms consumer charter to give clearer pricing at signup and to make social tariffs easier to access, with Ofcom estimating eligible households could save up to £220 a year.

Major broadband and mobile providers have agreed to a government Telecoms Consumer Charter that aims to reduce unexpected mid-contract price rises and make pricing clearer when customers sign up. The charter also commits firms to make social tariffs easier to access and to offer help for customers in financial difficulty. The move follows government attention after an operator announced a price increase in November that prompted a review of rules on mid-contract rises. Several large providers signed the charter, and ministers said the changes are intended to ease cost pressures for households. Key points: - Providers will give clearer information about any future price rises at the point of signing up for new mobile or broadband deals. - Firms have pledged to proactively signpost social tariffs to eligible customers and to make it easier for vulnerable customers to access those tariffs. - Customers facing financial difficulty will be offered options to move to cheaper plans without penalty and to access manageable payment plans. - BT, Virgin Media O2, VodafoneThree, Sky and TalkTalk are among the companies that have signed the charter. - Ofcom has previously estimated that social tariffs could save eligible households up to £220 a year, and the government asked Ofcom to revisit mid-contract price rules after a recent unexpected increase by one operator. Summary: The charter is intended to increase transparency about future price rises and to widen access to social tariffs, which the government says will help households under financial pressure. Undetermined at this time.