Mid-contract broadband price rises: what changed, and what to do this month

If your broadband bill went up this spring and you weren't quite sure why, you're not imagining it. Ofcom changed the rules on how providers can raise prices during a fixed contract, and most of the big names have quietly reshaped their pricing in response.

The good news: the new rules make rises easier to spot in advance. The less good news: that doesn't mean the rise itself is small. Here's the calm version of what's going on, and what to actually do about it this week.

What actually changed

Until last year, most major providers raised prices each April by CPI plus a few percent. The exact figure depended on a number you couldn't predict when you signed up. Ofcom decided that wasn't fair, and now any in-contract rise has to be set out in pounds and pence at the point of sale.

• Rises must be stated as a specific £ amount, not a percentage
• They have to be flagged clearly before you sign the contract
• If a provider changes the terms outside of what was agreed, you can leave penalty-free

What this looks like on your bill

On most providers, the new line reads something like "Your monthly price will increase by £3 in April each year". That's a real-money increase regardless of inflation, applied on top of the price you signed up for. Over a 24-month contract, two of those rises stack.

The three sentences that usually work

If you're out of contract, or your minimum term ends within the next 30 days, providers genuinely expect you to call. Their retentions teams have a budget specifically for keeping you. You don't need to be aggressive, you just need to be specific.

“My contract is ending on the 14th. I've seen new-customer pricing at £26 for the same speed. Can you match that, or should I move my number across?”

That's it. Polite, specific, includes a real comparison, and ends with a clear question. In the cases we track, this kind of script gets a meaningful discount roughly two thirds of the time on broadband, and slightly more on mobile.

If you're still in contract

You usually can't switch without an early-termination fee, but you can ask for a goodwill credit, a speed upgrade at the same price, or to move to a cheaper tier. The worst case is no, and the best case is that next month's bill is quietly £8 lower.