Bills are continuing to rise in many sectors of life, and this is no different for Sky TV and broadband customers who have been informed of impending rises in an unwelcome letter.
Even those who are in the middle of their current contract aren’t safe, as the letter detailed that the prices for both the TV packages and broadband distributed from Sky will be increased for everyone from April 1. This price hike will see customers having to pay 6.2 per cent more for their package deals.
This means that people paying £30 per monthly deal will now be paying £31.86 per month, and those paying £40 per month will pay £42.48, reports the Express.
New rules from Ofcom in January now mean that customers in mobile and broadband contracts have to be informed from the beginning of any potential price rises, written in pounds and pence figures, that could occur during their contract.
However, Sky has found a loophole to these rules. They have instead found that they can inform their customers of price hikes while mid-contract if they give the option to cancel the contract immediately when the prices are intended to increase.
A letter from Devesh Raj, Sky’s chief operating officer, said: “This April, we will be introducing some changes to prices of Sky’s TV and broadband products. I wanted to take this opportunity to explain to our customers why this decision is necessary and why we’re always committed to offering you excellent value.
“At Sky, everything we do is focused on bringing people the joy of a better experience. Whether it’s award-winning content, world-class sports coverage, or reliable broadband, we strive to provide an offering that sets us apart. I’m proud to say we’ve invested heavily over the last 12 months, so our customers now have access to more than ever before.”
He added: “This continued investment to deliver the best and most reliable products, along with increased supplier costs, means most of our TV and broadband customers will see a change in their price this year. But we’ve made every effort to minimise the financial impact to you.”
The letter from Sky said: “From April, our TV and broadband packages will increase by an average of 6.2 per cent, which is either in line with or lower than other providers. Over the last four years, our prices have broadly increased in line with inflation, reflecting our ongoing commitment to fair and transparent pricing.
“I’m pleased to confirm that the cost of our broadband and mobile social tariff will be frozen once again, protecting our most vulnerable customers and ensuring they continue to have access to essential services. We will be reaching out to every customer impacted in the coming weeks, to provide clarity about how their products and services will be affected.
“These price adjustments are reflected in the investments we’ve made to improve our products and services and the heightened pressures businesses across our industry continue to face. For example, the amount we pay wholesalers for our broadband infrastructure or the investments we need to make in technology to deliver product reliability and improvements for our customers.”
If you are unhappy with the price increase on your contract, you can contact Sky when the price goes up to instantly cancel your contract within 30 days and switch to another provider. This is applicable even if you are mid contract.
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