Sky customers will be joining millions of other households that will see their bills increase sharply this spring, as the broadband and TV supplier announced hikes of an average of £67.20 a year.
BT, EE, Plusnet, Shell, TalkTalk, Three and Virgin Media customers already know they will be paying as much as 14.4% more for their services, with Sky announcing its increases today (February 9). Vodafone and O2 are yet to announce their increases.
Providers are allowed to increase prices mid-contract by the rate of inflation plus an extra amount on top, as set out in their terms and conditions, but this year, some of the firms are blaming the cost of living crisis for the steep rises, saying regulatory requirements, higher energy prices and increased network costs have forced their hand.
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Although the price increase will affect most Sky broadband and TV customers, those on Sky's Broadband Basics plan - Sky's social tariff for people on universal credit and other benefits - will not have to pay more. Customers who signed up for Sky Glass and Sky Stream on or after October 18 2022 will also be shielded from the hike. This includes where you took out an 18-month contract OR a monthly rolling plan on or after this date.
Everyone else - regardless of whether you have a bundled packages of more than one product or just the one product, such as broadband - will be facing higher bills from April 1. Sky says its home phone prices will also be changing, but has not released any more details yet. How much prices will rise by depends on which package you have – but the average will be 8.1% Sky wouldn't confirm the individual price increases customers face, but said the average rise will be £5.60 a month. It will be writing to affected customers from February 16 to confirm their new prices.
Some affected users may be able to cancel penalty-free, but check you'll be better off before switching, as some providers are hiking fees by up to 14.4%.
The price rises we know of so far are:
BT
Price rise: 14.4% for BT broadband, landline, mobile and TV users
No rise: Landline-only users, and users on Home Essentials, Basic or Home Phone Saver (social tariffs for those receiving benefits)
Effective date: March 31
EE
Price rise: 14.4% for broadband, landline and mobile users
No rise: Pay-as-you-go users and EE Mobile Basics users (social tariffs for those receiving benefits)
Effective date: March 31
Plusnet
Price rise: 14.4% for broadband and landline users who signed up after Oct 6, 2020. Broadband and landline users who signed up before Oct 7 2020 will pay 14.4% more for call costs only within your contract's fixed term. As soon as your contract ends, prices will rise by 14.4% on your entire bill. Plusnet mobile users will also pay 14.4% more
Effective date: March 31
Shell
Price rise: 13.5% for broadband and landline users who signed up before Jan 9, 2023
No rise: Broadband and landline users who signed up on or after Jan 9, 2023 will see no price change until April 24
Effective date: April 1
Talk Talk
Price rise: 14.2% for broadband and landline users. 10.5% for Fixed Price Plus customers out of minimum contract period
No rise: Fixed Price Plus and Pre-Pay Saver customers within their minimum contract period. Talk Talk has also said its most vulnerable customers will not pay more, but it has not defined how these customers are determined.
Effective date: April 1
Three
Price rise: 4.5% for broadband and mobile users who joined between Oct 29, 2020 and Oct 31, 2022 and 14.4% for those who joined on or after Nov 1, 2022
Effective date: April 1
Virgin Media
Price rise: An average of 13.8% for broadband, landline and TV users
No rise: Users on Essential broadband or Talk Protected phone-only plans and "vulnerable" customers
Effective date: April 1 and May 1
Can you leave your Sky contract to beat the price hikes?
If you think you can get a better deal elsewhere, whether you can walk away without paying anything depends where you are in your contract.
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If you are outside your contract term for broadband, home phone and/or TV: You can leave penalty-free by contacting Sky by phone on 0333 759 1230 or online. You'll need to give 31 days' notice for TV packages and 14 days' notice for broadband and home phone packages.
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If you are still in your minimum term on a Sky broadband and home phone contract: You can leave penalty-free but only do so within 30 days of receiving official notification of the price increase.
- If you are still in your minimum term on a Sky TV contract? You don't have the right to exit your contract penalty-free as a result of these price changes.
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If your bundle containes TV and broadband: The same rules apply. So you will be able to cancel the broadband penalty-free, but not the TV.
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