BT Group PLC (LSE:BT.A) and Vodafone Group PLC (LSE:VOD) have been urged by consumer association Which? to hold off from their planned mid-contract price hikes for vulnerable households.
Under their agreements with the regulator, broadband providers can raise contract prices in April in line with inflation.
Both BT and Vodafone can hike prices by December's consumer price index plus between 3% and 3.9%, meaning hikes this year will be more than 14%, resulting in BT customers paying up to £58 more over the course of the year.
BT subsidiaries Plusnet and EE would see customers pay £48 and £51 more a year, with TalkTalk and Vodafone charging £49 and £44 extra after price rises, Which said.
To avoid this, customers could pay an exit fee on contracts, though this would cost as much as £194 for BT customers. Plusnet and EE charge £133 and £116 in exit fees, while TalkTalk and Vodafone bill £122 and £101 respectively to cancel contracts.
You have the power to support financially vulnerable customers through this time of crisis.
It is unacceptable for telecoms firms to profit from those who can least afford it.
Stop the price hikes.#CostOfLiving https://t.co/vcOveOGCb9
— Which? (@WhichUK) March 21, 2023
“It is unacceptable that during an unprecedented cost of living crisis, telecoms firms are profiting from those who can least afford it,” Which said.
“We're calling on these companies to urgently cancel 2023 mid-contract price hikes for financially vulnerable customers.”
Which also published responses from providers, with TalkTalk and Vodafone both confirming vulnerable customers would automatically be exempt from rises.
EE, on behalf of BT, said price rises were “never wanted nor welcomed,” but were “necessary” given rising business costs.