Must ISPs provide identical deals to existing and new customers now?

JohnB47

Hi. I've been with Plusnet for a few years now and my current plan is ending later this month. I'm looking to be forewarned before calling them to see what they can offer.

I've seen that they are offering deals now which include £50 reward cards. I can't see anywhere that they say this is for new customers only.

I seem to remember reading in the news that ISPs were being stopped from offering deals for new customers only.

Is that correct? Ta.

matelodave

Where did you read that?.

I dont think it's true, although I have seen that BT have made the claim that they'll offer the same deal (but there are a lot of caveats)

flaneurs_lobster

@JohnB47 You may have been thinking of house/car insurance renewals https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2021/05/-insurers-banned-charging-existing-customers-more--new--loyalty-/ from 1 Jan 22. There are proposals to make ISP switches easier by including Virgin's (and similar cable operators) offerings in the ISP swap procedure that just means contact with the new operator.

The_Fat_Controller

The "deal" will be on the monthly contract price.

It will not include any incentives only offered to new customers.

phillw

JohnB47 said:

I seem to remember reading in the news that ISPs were being stopped from offering deals for new customers only.

Not exactly...

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/features-and-news/fairer-prices-for-broadband-customers

JohnB47

phillw said:

JohnB47 said:

I seem to remember reading in the news that ISPs were being stopped from offering deals for new customers only.

Not exactly...

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/features-and-news/fairer-prices-for-broadband-customers

Ah yes, that's what I mean ok, all clear now. Thanks pillw.

Neil_Jones

Well Plusnet told me the other day when my parents' deal ran out they're not going to price-matching anybody else now.  So they gave me what they said was the same deal as per new customers as per a little bit knocked off, but I can see cheaper elsewhere.  Weren't the least bit interested.

So the line rental saver runs out in December (because their billing system was (and still is) crap) and now their broadband/call package is out of contract.  Can't really complain as I got the rental free for them in the first place last year (which their crappy billing system forgot all about, like every other retention deal) so I'll probably try again on the haggle thing next month and if there's no movement, well parents are happy to move on.

JohnB47

Neil_Jones said:

Well Plusnet told me the other day when my parents' deal ran out they're not going to price-matching anybody else now.  So they gave me what they said was the same deal as per new customers as per a little bit knocked off, but I can see cheaper elsewhere.  Weren't the least bit interested.

So the line rental saver runs out in December (because their billing system was (and still is) crap) and now their broadband/call package is out of contract.  Can't really complain as I got the rental free for them in the first place last year (which their crappy billing system forgot all about, like every other retention deal) so I'll probably try again on the haggle thing next month and if there's no movement, well parents are happy to move on.

Cheers. Where did you find cheaper?

phillw

Neil_Jones said:

Well Plusnet told me the other day when my parents' deal ran out they're not going to price-matching anybody else now. 

Weird, I've never had any ISP price match anyone.

Neil_Jones

phillw said:

Neil_Jones said:

Well Plusnet told me the other day when my parents' deal ran out they're not going to price-matching anybody else now. 

Weird, I've never had any ISP price match anyone.

Maybe poor choice of words on my part.  I saw a new customer deal for whatever it was from another provider and Plusnet wouldn't offer any retention deals as apparently they don't do that anymore.  I thought it was strange.  They did it last year.

JJ_Egan

I have had BT match another ISPs price .

But that is me saying i can get XX for £zz to retentions .