sky increase charges during the initial contract

dvdgremlin

I signed up in may, 2012 with Sky. they were cheaper than everyone else for unlimited broadband and phone line package, I now get a mail saying the are increasing the line rental from £12.25 to £14.50 in December.

I online chatted to complain as what is the point of a contract if they can increase their prices during it's term ?

Initially they tried to argue it was in the contract that there was a price promise not to increase prices during the contract by more than 10%. I pointed out that this was about 20% and where did it say this in the T&Cs anyway ? He switched off my connection.

I tried again and I was told I was through to someone in accounts that could examine a rectify my complaint. I explained that £2.25 increase was over the 10% price increase protection g'tee. He told me the price increase protection was at 18%. I said this was more than 18% and he went away to verify details several times. He then came back and said sorry the protection is for increases over 18.5% and this is less than that.

I asked where this was specified in the T&Cs. He couldn't find it and quoted a paragraph where I can cancel as it materially harmed me.

So what is the point in signing a contract with Sky with competitive costs and within months they can just increase them ? This means that they can quote really low figures., sign you up and then just increase them !

Are all suppliers doing this now where their prices can be increased during a contract period ?

stephcyl

I got the same letter. Hope i can cancel it cos i have no plan of paying that much

macman

This has been covered numerous times. It's not a fixed price contract-telcoms contracts never are. They can increase it any time they like.
Equally, if the increase is 'materially detrimental' then you can leave during your minimum term without penalty, as long as you give notice in time.