Sky announces new broadband and TV price rises: are you affected?
Sky has said it will raise prices on some of its broadband, phone and pay TV packages from April 1 2024, and that the average increase for customers will be 6.7%.
The provider is one of the UK's biggest, so millions will be affected by these price hikes. Sky will be writing to affected customers to notify them of changes over the next few weeks.
This follows news that the other major providers will also be increasing the price of their deals in April, trapping telecoms customers between £60 price hikes and £500 exit fees.
To find out how you're affected, use our broadband and mobile price rise calculator to see how much your bills could rise.
How are Sky's prices changing?
The majority of Sky's broadband and pay TV customers will see the price of their current deal increase, with the exception of those on Sky's Broadband Basics social tariff who will not see a change to the amount they pay.
Sky hasn't yet detailed how each of its services will be affected, or the specific price increases on a deal-by-deal basis, but has said the average increase will be 6.7%.
It will write to all affected customers to confirm how their bill will be changing.
Can I leave my Sky contract if the price goes up?
Unless written into the terms and conditions of your contract, Ofcom's rules state that if providers raise the price of their broadband, mobile phone or landline deals by a rate greater than inflation, they must then allow customers to leave their contract penalty-free. However the situation is different for customers who only have a pay TV deal - they are not given the right to exit without facing an early termination fee.
Your letter from Sky will explain whether you have the right to exit your contract. If you do, you will have 30 days after being informed of the price rise to switch without being hit with an exit fee.
If you're out of your contract with Sky, you're free to ditch your deal and switch providers at any time. Use our broadband comparison service to explore new broadband deals available where you live. If you find it tricky choosing between different deals, our guide to the Best and worst broadband providers 2024 reveals how customers of each provider rated different aspects of its service, including value for money, broadband speeds and customer service.
If you're within a fixed term contract and concerned about being able to pay a higher price, get in touch with Sky. It will take steps to help you with your bills - read more about the things providers can do to offer support for customers struggling with their broadband bills.
How to haggle with Sky
If you're happy with the service you get from Sky and you're out-of-contract, it's worth seeing these price rises as an opportunity to haggle. It might sound daunting to some, but, like most providers, Sky both expects and invites haggling.
The process is as simple as getting in touch with your provider and asking what it can offer. While you have the best leverage if you're out of contract or have the right to exit penalty-free, Sky may be willing to offer deals to other customers affected by prices rises, particularly if you subscribe to several services.
For a step-by-step guide on how to do it, read our tips on how to haggle for the best broadband deal.
Which? calls for action from telecoms providers
Sky is the latest provider to announce price hikes this April, despite campaigning from Which? to end these unpredictable increases.
Regulator Ofcom has announced it is planning to ban mid-contract price rises that are linked to inflation, after concluding that inflation-linked mid-contract price rise terms can cause substantial consumer harm by making it more complicated to choose a broadband or mobile deal, limiting consumer engagement in the market and reducing competition in the industry.
Sky implements ad-hoc price rises, which aren't covered by the same inflation-based ruling. However, in this case, customers are not tied to their contract and have the opportunity to switch away.
We believe it is unfair - and in some cases, potentially unlawful - for consumers to be signed up to deals that do not give them certainty about how much they can expect to pay over the course of their contract, especially given exit fees can be punitive. That’s why our campaign, The Right to Connect, has called for clearer and fairer pricing for telecoms customers and an end to unpredictable mid-contract price hikes.
Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: 'It's very disappointing to see Sky raising prices for customers in this unpredictable way. Consumers deserve pricing certainty rather than being blindsided with more above inflation hikes.
'Unlike people trapped by their contract when prices rise, Sky customers can take action. Customers should send a message to Sky by voting with their feet and taking advantage of their right to exit within 30 days. Our recent research found, on average, Sky TV and broadband customers could save £152 by switching.
'Ofcom's current proposals to ban inflation-linked price rises don't extend to the 'prices may vary' terms that Sky is using for these ad-hoc hikes. The regulator should commit to closing this loophole and banning all forms of unpredictable price rises to protect millions of people.'
We're demanding big broadband and mobile phone providers drop hikes buried in the terms and conditions. Agree? Sign the petition.
