New Contract, Price Already Inceased?

[SharonMajor]

Hello,

I agreed to a new contract through my son in January where I was offered a discount to bring my over all price to mid £80's. I was paying over £110 before that approximately. That is way too much for me as I am retired and really need to make every penny count. Myself or my son was not told about the price shooting up so soon into the new cotract and now I am once again tied down to £110 a month so I am absolutely no better off and I cannot even leave due to the new contract start. 

I rang customer services who basically said my options were take a NEW contract with one of those smart TVs to bring it down, or I could have a £2 reduction in my bill. I am worried about money as most people are and am not sure where to turn next. I understand things go up every year, but surely that doesn't apply to new contracts taken within 2 months of the projected increase. I have already been charged the increased price for Feb and the increase shouldnt happen until April right?

Any advice I would be very appreciative.

[SharonMajor]

I should also clarify that when I say through my son he called the customer services line for me and talked to them about everything. They did not mention to him about an increase. 

[MarkGoldsmith]

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@SharonMajor wrote:

Hello,

I agreed to a new contract through my son in January where I was offered a discount to bring my over all price to mid £80's. I was paying over £110 before that approximately. That is way too much for me as I am retired and really need to make every penny count. Myself or my son was not told about the price shooting up so soon into the new cotract and now I am once again tied down to £110 a month so I am absolutely no better off and I cannot even leave due to the new contract start. 

I rang customer services who basically said my options were take a NEW contract with one of those smart TVs to bring it down, or I could have a £2 reduction in my bill. I am worried about money as most people are and am not sure where to turn next. I understand things go up every year, but surely that doesn't apply to new contracts taken within 2 months of the projected increase. I have already been charged the increased price for Feb and the increase shouldnt happen until April right?

Any advice I would be very appreciative.

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Sky do the price rise every April so for a contract agreed in January, the increase would come in April . For customers signing up from the price rise announcement they tend to offer 60 days protection, so they get the price increase hitting them in June/July time.

[SharonMajor]

I have just looked up that OFCOM changed the rules that from Jan 17th they have to make it clear in writing that the price will rise, and by how much in monetary figures not percentages. They certainly did not do that so I am going to have to raise that as a point of concern I think.

It's interesting you say the price rises in April when I've paid over a hundred for 2 billing periods now even though it was supposed to be around mid £80'.s

[MarkGoldsmith]

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@SharonMajor wrote:

I have just looked up that OFCOM changed the rules that from Jan 17th they have to make it clear in writing that the price will rise, and by how much in monetary figures not percentages. They certainly did not do that so I am going to have to raise that as a point of concern I think.

It's interesting you say the price rises in April when I've paid over a hundred for 2 billing periods now even though it was supposed to be around mid £80'.s

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The OFCOM ruling currently applies to broadband contracts and a company has 2 options, they either put the price in pounds and pence in the contract or they dont and they allow you to exit the contract penalty free within 31 days notice of the price rise ( this is what Sky has choosen to do with their broadband contracts).

For TV this doesn't apply, there is no provision to exit early due to the annual price rise unless the price rise is more than 10% ( which has to be 10% increase from the list price, not contracted discounted prices).