MSE News: Now Broadband to hike prices by £42 a year - but you can leave penalty-free

littleboo

Shell Broadband is up for sale as part of their domestic energy business
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2023/06/shell-puts-for-sale-sign-over-uk-broadband-isp-shell-energy.html

Rob5342

Now put our 80mbit service up to £25.50 a month, but I've just found 160mbit for £26 from Fibrehop via CityFibre so I have signed up for that and they are installing it on Friday. That will be just in time to cancel without penalty.

scoobyjones1

littleboo said:

Shell Broadband is up for sale as part of their domestic energy business
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2023/06/shell-puts-for-sale-sign-over-uk-broadband-isp-shell-energy.html

I am not surprised. Yet another company that thought they could buyout a broadband business and make a quick buck. Their customer service is abysmal and they charged my Mum an extra month AFTER she switched to BT (30 days notice!). They also charged her £36 exit penalty...even though THEY had increased their prices. BT have promised to help her with this and hopefully she will get credit which will compensate her for the exit penalty. These penalties should be banned...especially for pensioners struggling to pay their escalating bills.

Rob5342

I phoned Now broadband to cancel my service today and it took an hour to get through. It seems like a lot of people are leaving.

makara

I got the notification in early June, and have tried calling them several times on several of their 03 numbers, but NONE WORK 

Is this because too many of their customers are phoning them about the £3.50 increase?

I'm wondering if this is a blessing in disguise though, as I got notified I have a job with Sky starting early September...and apparently Sky employees get discounted broadband 

So maybe it will be better to bite the bullet for 2 to 3 months of paying £23.50 (instead of my current £20) to NOW - and then see if Sky will give me cheaper?

Or - try to rejoin Sky (I was with them for a couple of years before I moved to NOW in April 2022) via a cashback deal? But would I get cashback, as I am a Sky mobile contract customer...and would be a returning customer to broadband...?

Rob5342

It took an hour to get through when I phoned to cancel. They said there was a refund due which could take 6 weeks to return to me, it's funny how they were able to take the money the day the service started though!

SJMALBA

Got through to Now today, but no joy. 

makara

makara said:

I got the notification in early June, and have tried calling them several times on several of their 03 numbers, but NONE WORK 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80150902

A kindly MSE member gave me a NOW number which worked instantly -

03337 594 816

I'll copy and paste from that thread what happened -

++++++++

I spoke to Retentions - and as others have said they didn't give the option to keep my price as the same / or reduce the £3.50

He also added that if he re-contracts me now - the new price of £25.50 will be applicable - so it's better to stay on a rolling non-contract of £23.50

However one good news - Steven said that as the prices are going up on July 5th BUT my next bill is going to be made on July 4th - I will NOT pay £23.50 - but my existing £20

Then from August 4th I will pay £23.50

In terms of getting cheap Sky broadband as a new Sky employee - he said to be aware that I may not get that immediately - as "Now" employees only get their broadband discounted after Probation (and Sky may have a similar requirement)

He added that from around May 3rd of 2024 - my price will go up to £46.50 - so THAT is when I should (if still with NOW) speak to them to re-contract - as it will be cheaper than a rolling £46.50