A recent survey by Opinium, carried out for Uswitch.com, discovered that over the past year, average monthly bills for broadband bundles and mobile services have increased by £18.50 and £9.50, respectively.
Conducted in mid-April 2023, the survey found that 28% of participants are “angry” about the escalating costs, while 21% feel worried.
Interestingly, the majority of people are aware of when their contracts end.
In compliance with Ofcom regulations, providers are required to send End-of-Contract Notifications (ECN) to their subscribers. These notifications aim to keep customers informed and encourage them to switch providers if necessary.
The survey also shows 27% of broadband users and 22% of mobile users do not know their contracts’ end date.
Among these respondents, 20% rely on reminders from their providers for bill payments or contract renewals, while 19% have contracts that renew automatically.
The main reasons for being unaware of contract renewal dates include managing too many bills or contracts (16%), having difficulty tracking dates (15%), and struggling with life admin tasks (15%).
To address this issue, Uswitch recommends that if there is a mid-contract price increase, customers should be allowed to switch providers without facing penalties. This would help consumers find better deals and reduce the broadband bills more effectively.