BT announces price hike for broadband and TV customers

BT broadband and TV customers can expect to pay extra for their services as of 2 April as BT announces price changes.
BT has hiked its pricesBT has hiked its prices
BT has hiked its prices

The new pricing sees basic broadband customers to see rise of £2 per month and all BT Infinity fibre customers to see a rise of £2.50 per month. Anytime calls are also up 49p, to £8.99 a month.

Sports fans aren't exempt from the price hikes either, as BT Sport will now charge £3.50 a month from next season for BT TV customers.

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According to broadband, TV and phone comparative website, Cable.co.uk, the price rises universally exceed current CPI inflation (1.6 per cent) and in some cases many times over.

Commenting on the price rises, Dan Howdle, consumer telecoms expert at Cable.co.uk, said that the rise does therefore not reflect the rates of inflation.

"This affects every one of BT's customers to a lesser or greater extent and is in my opinion completely unjustified,” says Dan. These price hikes are absurd in contrast to current rates of inflation and, quite rightly, I would expect BT customers to be fuming.

"Customers should remember that under current rules, in the event of a price hike, they have the right to switch out of their contract free of charge. As a BT customer you do get a vote in this – but it's a vote with your feet."

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To cancel, call BT and explain that you wish to exercise your legal right to cancel your contract in the event of a price rise. This can also be done for any other provider.

Within 30 days of being notified of the price increase, contact your provider by phone, letter, or email and tell them you want to cancel.

Sales people may try and get you to stay - which can be useful if they offer you a genuinely better deal, but stick to your guns if you know you definitely want to leave.

Quote the price increase as your reason for leaving, and ensure that you won't get penalised for doing so. Then get a confirmation date for when the final payment will be taken.

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John Petter, chief executive of BT Consumer, responded: “Customers will get a better package and improved service from us this year in exchange for paying a little more. Millions will have the chance to upgrade to faster broadband and almost a million will be able to upgrade to enjoy unlimited usage for no extra cost.

“As usual, we’ve taken care of low income customers by freezing the price of BT Basic and capping call costs. We’ve also frozen line rental, which will particularly help customers who only take a traditional phone service from us.”

BT point out that they are not the only providers passing costs on to customers.

Sky put up TV prices by up to £72 a year in June 2016 and Virgin Media recently introduced their third price rise in the space of 12 months when they put up line rental by £1.01 in November.

TalkTalk also raised prices from November, 2016, hiking broadband, phone and TV packages by up to an extra £33 a year.