Money saving expert Martin Lewis has issued an urgent call to everyone with a monthly mobile phone bill following price hikes by every major operator in April including Three, EE, Vodafone and O2.
All the major phone networks have issued price rises this month which are higher than inflation, averaging about eight percent increases linked to the CPI’s inflation rate, usually with as much as 3.9 percent extra added on top.
But you don’t necessarily have to accept the price hike, Martin Lewis has urged his fans, and there is a quick two-step way to counter it.
Speaking on his BBC Sounds Podcast, Martin heard from one caller who told him: “I managed to get my phone bill down from £52 a month to SIM-only for £9. Plus my fibre broadband from £32 a month to £20. Well happy. £660 a year saved.”
Martin then added: “And there are 20 million people out of contract, therefore free to move.
“This is a no-brainer for those 20 million people but if you sit on your mobile and broadband you are likely paying far more than you need and frankly you are being ripped off and you will not be getting enough data and you will not be getting fast enough speeds.
“So you will not only be paying too much but you will be getting sub-service level products. That is something you need to check out. There will be some out there who are all sorted. For you? Wonderful. But for tens of millions of people in the UK, you’re paying too much for your broadband and it’s not fast enough, you’re paying too much on your mobile and you’re not getting enough data. That’s what I want to sort today.”
For mobile deals, Martin said: “First step check if you’re one of 14 million out of contract and text INFO for free to 85075, it’s an Ofcom regulated scheme and firms must reply telling you if you’re out of contract.
“A few firms will then say they want your birthday to validate it, that’s cool, that’s part of it, that’s allowed.
“For some people who have multiple handsets on one contract it can’t be done.
“Second step, if you’re over roughly £8 a month, unless you’ve got high roaming costs or you’re paying off your handset, why. You can get 100GB a month SIM now for £8 a month, 50GB for £6 a month, so you need to look at can I do it much much cheaper, quicker and easier.
“The best deals tend to be short lived deals on price comparison websites.”
