Millions of Virgin TV and broadband customers face a significant price hike from the 1st of March. Those affected will see their bills rise an average of £4.60 per month, or £56 per year.
The changes will apply to the majority of Virgin account holders. Anyone with broadband, TV or landline services, including those who have bundles containing multiple services will all be hit. Virgin have stated however that the hike will not affect anyone on their ‘essential’ packages, reserved for those on Universal Credit.
If you’re a mobile customer then you will see the price of data, minutes and texts go up, but not your handset. Customers who have combined mobile and cable services will not face any additional airtime charges.
Exactly how much the increase will be for each person hasn’t been revealed yet. These price hikes often mirror the rate of inflation with any additional operating costs for the company added on top.
Virgin customers who signed up under a promotional deal will not find their offer changing until the initial contract period is up. From that point the new monthly rate will reflect the higher rates.
Speaking on the changes, a spokesperson for Virgin Media said: “While we recognise a price change is never welcome, with rising costs and our customers using their services more than ever, we are reviewing our pricing to fuel further investment in our network and services, both now and in the future. We’re committed to providing brilliant services and excellent overall value, and consistently give our customers more for their money than anyone else.”
It is not yet clear how many customers will be affected, but if you find yourself in their number, you will be given the chance to leave your contract free of charge. This is because as Virgin are increasing their prices mid-contract, you are under no legal obligation to stick around. All you need to do is get in touch within 30 days of being informed of these new changes. Virgin started reaching out to customers from the 4th of January, so if you have a contract with them you will likely be contacted before February.
While it’s likely that other companies will be engaging in similar behaviours over the next few months, it’s always worth checking out the market to see what else might be available.
Sources: The Guardian, Virgin Media
