Vodafone UK has introduced a ‘fixed price promise’ that says the basic monthly charge of a mobile phone contract won’t increase during the minimum term.
It follows a clarification of Ofcom’s rules earlier this year. As a result, mobile network operators can no longer introduce ‘unexpected’ price increases during a contract.
O2 UK responded to these rules by telling all new customers that prices would rise every year in line with inflation, while Three UK said it wouldn’t increase prices during the minimum contract term.
The new Vodafone promise applies to all customers on a standard ‘pay monthly’ contract, including those who signed up before Ofcom’s new rules came into effect.
Cindy Rose, Consumer Director at Vodafone, said “We asked our customers what they thought was fair when it came to charging, and the clear majority told us that it was unacceptable to increase monthly prices during the contract term. So from now on, when you sign up with us, a deal’s a deal, and we promise the monthly price you pay will stay the same for the period of your contract term, provided you stick within your allowance.”
Charges outside the monthly ‘line rental’ are not affected by the Ofcom ruling.