Forum Discussion

shree's avatar
shree
Tuning in
2 hours ago

End of Contact offers for renewal

I believe that VM and other operators are obliged to offer loyal customers new deal options including new customer offers at the end of contracts, as below.

"Clearer End-of-Contract Warnings: When your initial deal ends, providers must tell you your current price, the new price, and what their best available deals are (including new customer offers).

You Can Still Pay More: The "loyalty penalty" (paying more than new customers) still exists because companies use big discounts for new sign-ups to compete."

Obligation is to just Inform what best deals are but no obligation to accept the the deal offered to the new customers, my obvious choice.

Therefore,the govt and/ or OFCOM have done absolutely nothing for loyal customers . Just an Obligation. Utter nonsense. Am i right. Don't understand why this was done at all! 

Here our new inflated price, take it out leave it

 

3 Replies

  • cje85's avatar
    cje85
    Wise owl
    2 hours ago

    They have to let you know the new customer price for an equivalent package, but don't have to offer you the same price. It is to encourage you to shop around and change provider for a better deal.

    The government have recently asked Ofcom to look at this issue again (they work very slowly so don't expect any quick changes), but should they decide existing customers must be offered the same price as new customers, the new customer price will just go up.

    1. Liz Kendall’s Key Recommendations for Ofcom
      Look at in-contract price rises again.
    2. Undertake a “rapid review” on how easy it is for customers to switch providers.
    3. Deliver increased transparency in telecoms bills, which could follow the same mould as “recent changes on electricity bills” to help highlight the costs of specific components of those bills.
    4. Consider the possibility of adopting a similar regime to those such as insurance, where new and existing customers need to be offered the same deal.

    https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2025/11/gov-push-ofcom-to-tackle-mid-contract-uk-broadband-and-mobile-price-hikes.html

    • Adduxi's avatar
      Adduxi
      Very Insightful Person
      2 hours ago
      cje85 wrote:

      the new customer price will just go up.

      Absolutely this ...

  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person
    2 hours ago

    In all the times I've been with VM on and off, the costs after the initial contract end period have always been clear from the start.  Once the discounts end, the full price is applied.  Hence it's important to either have an exit plan, or be prepared to "negotiate" an new discounted price.  In the past I've opted to negotiate a deal, but on the last two occasions I've left.  On returning, I was happy to get the new customer sales deals on Black Fridays. The choice is yours really, there are other suppliers, who not only provide broadband, but still do 12 month deals.