I recently received an email from my internet provider Plusnet stating our monthly bill would be rising from £30.99 to £54.39 as our 18 month contract came to an end.
If I left it, or missed the message (easily done in a vast, never ending ocean of admin), my bill would be whacked up 75 per cent for exactly the same package – unlimited fibre extra.
Not 75 per cent quicker broadband, 75 per cent better service, no, nothing different whatsoever, other than a sucker penalty if I stuck around out of contract.
That first half of the email filled me with a mixture of anger and frustration that I would need to hunt around for a better deal.
Angry to happy: The email from Plusnet made me mad – but then I read to the bottom and was far happier
I’ve been with Plusnet for nearly a decade and had no reason to complain.
The connection has been solid and quick, the price has stayed relatively steady and for that reason, I’ve not been in any hurry to move.
A few years ago, this type of email would have meant phoning Plusnet, going through the rigmarole and haggle dance of: I’m leaving unless you lower the price.
That would often mean long call wait times and again, in a sea of admin, one of those hassle-ridden tasks that would fall down the list until the very last minute.
But, these days, it’s different. There is a life ring at the bottom of said email that made feel more tranquil after the initial panic.
Under a header titled ‘here is your best price (in line with Ofcom guidance)’ it read: unlimited fibre extra broadband and line rental for £25.99 a month, increases 31 March 2025. 18 month contract.
Then a clickable blob of text that says: Renew my contract now. It took all of 30 seconds. Hallelujah.
So, not only am I now dodging that ridiculous £54.39 per month sucker penalty, I’m actually lowering our bill by a fiver a month – or 16 per cent – all without having to put in any legwork.
Now, I have been critical of our watchdogs plenty in the past, including Ofcom, but little steps like this are an example of how they can get things right.
Yes, you could argue that broadband providers shouldn’t have such ridiculous loyalty penalty, out of contract prices.
This, however, is the next best step – an easy way for households to renew, save money and also just as crucially, save time.
It’s easy to miss this type of message at the bottom of renewal emails, but that little scroll down can be vitally important.
You can check here for the latest broadband deals with This is Money’s partner Decision Tech.
Mobile con: Millions of people fall out of contract and then simply do nothing, despite paying off the handset
Don’t forgot your mobile too…
In a similar vein, I recently helped my wife swap onto a Sim-only mobile phone deal when her contract expired.
As a refresher, once you’re out of contract, you own the handset and are free to head elsewhere onto a far cheaper Sim-only rate.
For some reason, many people forget or don’t know this. To find out if you’re in or out of contract, you can text info to 85075 – a service set up by Ofcom a few years ago.
From there, your mobile provider should get back to you and tell you if you’re out of contract, or how much it would cost to exit your current one.
I tested it out and my provider contacted me instantly. If that doesn’t work, simply phone the customer services line of your mobile firm to find out.
These simple little nuggets of help are vital to staying on top of your bills and ensuring you’re never overpaying.
