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I recently received an email from my internet provider Plusnet stating that our monthly bill would increase from €30.99 to €54.39 as our 18 month contract expired.
If I left it behind or missed the message (easily done in a vast, endless ocean of administration), my bill would be increased by 75 percent for the exact same package – unlimited fiber extra.
Not 75 percent faster broadband, 75 percent better service, no, nothing at all, except a huge fine if I’m left without a contract.
That first half of the email filled me with a mixture of anger and frustration, forcing me to look for a better deal.
From angry to happy: Plusnet’s email made me angry – but then I read to the bottom and was much happier
I have been working at Plusnet for almost ten years and had no reason to complain.
The connection has been solid and fast, the price has remained relatively stable and for that reason I haven’t been in a rush to move.
A few years ago, this kind of email would have meant calling Plusnet and going through the hassle and negotiation dance of: I’m leaving unless you lower the price.
That often meant long waits and again, in a sea of red tape, one of those difficult tasks that fell off the list until the very last minute.
But nowadays it’s different. At the bottom of the email is a life ring that made me feel calmer after the initial panic.
Under a headline entitled ‘here’s your best price (in line with Ofcom guidelines)’ it said: unlimited fiber, additional broadband and line rental for £25.99 per month, increasing from March 31, 2025. 18 month contract.
Then a clickable blob of text that reads: Extend my contract now. It all took 30 seconds. Hallelujah.
So not only am I now avoiding that ridiculous £54.39 a month fine, I’m even reducing our bill by five dollars a month – or 16 percent – all without any effort on my part.
Now I’ve been a lot critical of our watchdogs in the past, including Ofcom, but small steps like this are an example of how they can get things right.
Yes, you could argue that broadband providers shouldn’t face such ridiculous loyalty penalties, beyond contract pricing.
However, this is the next best step: an easy way for households to innovate, save money and, just as importantly, save time.
It’s easy to miss these types of messages at the bottom of renewal emails, but that little scroll down can be vital.
You can watch the here latest broadband deals with This is Money’s partner Decision Tech.
Mobile cheating: Millions of people run out of contract and then simply do nothing, despite paying off the handset
Don’t forget your cell phone…
In a similar vein, I recently helped my wife switch to a SIM-only mobile phone plan when her contract expired.
As a refresher, once your contract ends you own the handset and can move elsewhere at a much cheaper SIM-only rate.
For some reason, many people forget or don’t know this. To find out whether or not your contract is running, you can text information to 85075 – a service Ofcom set up a few years ago.
From there, your mobile carrier should contact you and tell you if your contract is ending, or how much it would cost to cancel your current contract.
I tried it out and my provider contacted me immediately. If that doesn’t work, just call your mobile company’s customer service team to find out.
These simple little helpers are essential for keeping your bills under control and ensuring you never pay too much.