We're calling for Ofcom to stop mobile phone, broadband and TV package companies from forcing mid-contract price rises on consumers.

Millions of people across the UK sign up to new mobile phone contracts, broadband deals and TV packages every year, almost always for a fixed term. Well, if we are locked in for 18, 24 or 36 months, shouldn't our prices also be locked in?

Legally, technically, telecoms companies are allowed to increase their prices during the contract period as long as they either told us in the contract that they'll do it, or if they give us 30 days notice and the opportunity to exit the contract without a fee. I don't know about you, but I only just learnt this today. To me, this sounds like a broken regulatory system. 

The last few years, we all see our contracts go up by £2-4 per month each year and we don't say anything usually. Telecoms providers typically increase our costs by inflation + a random 3.9% (apparently just an industry standard extra addition). But with inflation at such an extreme high, we're now seeing mobile phone contracts increase by up to 18%! 

They do this because they are profit-earning businesses and they are legally allowed. So, I'm calling on Ofcom to introduce regulation that stops telecoms companies from increasing the prices of a fixed-term contract at any point. We wouldn't accept this from our energy suppliers, we shouldn't accept it from our telecoms providers.

This cost of living crisis we're in isn't going to get easier if we leave it up to the goodwill of private companies, we have to start taking back control of our finances and asking our regulators to help us get there. 

To do your part, please share this petition as far and wide as you can and talk to people about the problem we're facing. The further we can spread the message that there is something we can do about these price rises, the more likely it is that we'll be taken seriously by the regulators and get an audience with the decision makers.