The "small print" in wife's new Virgin contract

Yup I'd say it's a breach of Ofcom's new General Conditions requirements around "pounds and pence" pricing (a high £3.50 in VM's case). 

VM has a long track record of taking a relaxed/semi-detatched approach to regulations. 

Feel free to make a formal written complaint to Ofcom. 

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/category-1-10-weeks/272754-consultation-review-of-inflation-linked-telecoms-price-rises/associated-documents/statement-prohibiting-inflation-linked-price-rises2.pdf?v=370687

When was the new contract taken out?  VM's policy is explained here:

https://www.virginmedia.com/help/prices

Hi S_and_G_Murphy

The info below is from https://www.virginmedia.com/help/prices?

If you joined or took out a new contract with Virgin Media before 9 January 2025, your price is adjusted based on the UK government’s Retail Price Index (RPI) rate of inflation. RPI measures the rate of inflation by assessing the average change from one year to the next in the prices of a representative sample of goods and services purchased by typical UK households.

If you joined or took out a new contract with Virgin Media from 9 January 2025, your price will increase each April by £3.50, for a full breakdown of your price increases and when they will apply, please refer to your contract forms.

The new rules officially came into force on 17 January 2025, & affect anyone that is re-contracting on or after that date. They do not affect existing contracts retrospectively. VM have decided the cut-off for their contracts is 9th January.

The contract itself is the important document. If this specifically states your increase amounts over the next two years (example below) you have nothing to worry about.

Hi, signed up yesterday, Jan 27th.  Its live on ITV just now about it again, on the Martin Lewis show....

Sounds like VM have 'forgotten' to update their email template.