Are new Sky Mobile SIM only contracts subject to an annual price rise?

HaroldWhistler

Looking for SIM only options that use the O2 network and am trying to clarify whether Sky Mobile increase their price annually during a new contract. 

I know with other providers you either are shown a fixed price with no price rise (e.g. Lebara) or as per the new Ofcom regulations, get shown a contract price with set price rises over the term (e.g. with O2, their website shows a £1.80 increase each year at a fixed time). 

Looking at the headline offers on the Sky Mobile website, it seems to show a monthly price and a 12 month contract term. Are these fixed prices? All I can find in the small print below is:

“Data plan price may increase during your new minimum term (excludes VAT changes). Data Plan subject to 12-month minimum term.”

So does that mean the offer prices are not fixed? 

Ayr_Rage

Not fixed, price may rise every April.

flaneurs_lobster

Sky mobile did not increase their prices in April 25 (and their marketing made much of this at the time). No such undertaking is being made in their current promotions and, as you say, their t&cs specifically say "may increase",

Assume it will increase then factor in their 6mth half-price deal and some fairly chunky deals on TopCashback for the SIM-only contracts.

Their prices can still be beaten by O2 deals available on USwitch.

https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/compare/sim_only_deals/  and filter on networks that use O2.

Frozen_up_north

GiffGaff use the O2 network and maybe cheaper than Sky. They are very flexible in terms of changing your data allowance whenever you like.
If you need roaming, GG only include 5GB/month in the EU and don’t include Is of Man or Channel Is. Sky include the latter for free, but charge for EU roaming.

d123

Frozen_up_north said:

GiffGaff use the O2 network and maybe cheaper than Sky. They are very flexible in terms of changing your data allowance whenever you like.

Though Giffgaff aren’t really cheap anymore. 

As an example, I recently signed up directly with o2, £5.99 for 20GB. Giffgaff are charging £10 for 20GB.

HaroldWhistler

Ayr_Rage said:

Not fixed, price may rise every April.

Thing is aren't any providers who raise prices in new contracts after January 2025 meant to now state when and what exact increase will happen during the sale? I went through to the Basket and didn't see any mention of it. The text I mentioned in the post was from small print on the general website which doesn't put a number.

flaneurs_lobster said:

Sky mobile did not increase their prices in April 25 (and their marketing made much of this at the time). No such undertaking is being made in their current promotions and, as you say, their t&cs specifically say "may increase",

Assume it will increase then factor in their 6mth half-price deal and some fairly chunky deals on TopCashback for the SIM-only contracts.

Their prices can still be beaten by O2 deals available on USwitch.

https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/compare/sim_only_deals/  and filter on networks that use O2.

Thanks. Interesting. I'm with Lebara myself and looking this up for a family member who needs an O2 signal and preferably Unlimited Data.

Does TopCashback work for the offers on Sky's own website?

It was my understanding that after January 2025, any new contract by any provider - who has a price increase during the contract term - has to state what and when the increase will be upfront at the point of sale. 

For example if I click through an O2 offer on USwitch, or go to the Vodafone website, or using the MSE tool showing various providers, some are just fixed price (e.g. Lebara), others say Price £x till April 2026 and £y after April 2026 etc. O2 for instance show a £1.80 increase in April 2026.

On the Sky Mobile website, it doesn't say anything other than the £22 a month offer for 12 months. I clicked through to the Basket and again it only shows that price and a contract length. The text I mentioned in the post - "may increase during your minimum term" - was from the drop down terms on the general Sky Mobile website (without clicking through on a specific option). There is no mention of any specific price increase, or even when (e.g. April 2026). 

So are Sky going to increase the price in April 2026 like O2, or increase the base price after the contract ends after 12 months?

Frozen_up_north said:

GiffGaff use the O2 network and maybe cheaper than Sky. They are very flexible in terms of changing your data allowance whenever you like.
If you need roaming, GG only include 5GB/month in the EU and don’t include Is of Man or Channel Is. Sky include the latter for free, but charge for EU roaming.

I appreciate that thanks. I have used Giffgaff before. This SIM is for a family member who preferably needs Unlimited Data and potentially some of the roaming options that O2 offer directly (just not every month). At time of writing, the Sky Mobile price seemed lower than the O2 price in terms of the headline price.

Giffgaff, Voxi and Lebara are much clearer with fixed prices. I thought that any providers that increase their price have to now state what any increase will be and when after the Ofcom rules changes in January 2025. Trouble is the Sky Mobile website just shows a price and contract length with that small print I mentioned on the general webpage.

d123 said:

Frozen_up_north said:

GiffGaff use the O2 network and maybe cheaper than Sky. They are very flexible in terms of changing your data allowance whenever you like.

Though Giffgaff aren’t really cheap anymore. 

As an example, I recently signed up directly with o2, £5.99 for 20GB. Giffgaff are charging £10 for 20GB.

Yes that's a shame. The subsidiaries were offering better deals before.  

HaroldWhistler

I just found this whilst looking through USwitch to compare various providers if it helps anyone else:

https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/sky-mobile-contract-price-rise/

So USwitch states:

"Sky Mobile’s minimum contract term is 12 months, so if you opt for this provider, you will have a year of fixed-price payments guaranteed.

If you are out of contract, you will face a £1.50 price rise starting in February. Sky also states that if you are a new customer, you may face a price rise during your contract."

...

"Looking more closely at the Sky Mobile terms and conditions, it’s clear that if the monthly charge does change, you have the right to exit your contract without paying an early termination charge. You should also be warned in advance before any changes are made. Sky Mobile states: Prices may increase and services may vary, including during your minimum term. If we increase your monthly subscription price you may cancel your subscription without early termination charge. 

Regulator Ofcom ruled that any mid-contract price increases need to be set out ‘clearly and comprehensively’ in pounds and pence at the point of sale. Customers must also be told when the price increases will happen."

[End quote]

So it's a little confusing. The first part suggests a fixed price (as per the Sky Mobile website when you select a new offer). The second part suggests an unspecified price increase may occur which seems to contradict the Ofcom rule change. And the last part which USwitch mention, but doesn't appear to be on the Sky Mobile main webpage, suggests if Sky Mobile do increase the price during your contract term, you can switch to someone else. 

In the words of Morris Schaffer: "Major, right now you got me about as confused as I ever hope to be!"

flaneurs_lobster

HaroldWhistler said:

Does TopCashback work for the offers on Sky's own website?

Certainly should do. Start on the TopCashback site and click through

https://www.topcashback.co.uk/sky-mobile/

Read the bit of bumph there about keeping the order number etc in case of any claim.

Doesn't hurt if you were to clear down cookies on an instance of your browser beforehand, gives the tracking cookies that the sites use more chance to "bite".

It was my understanding that after January 2025, any new contract by any provider - who has a price increase during the contract term - has to state what and when the increase will be upfront at the point of sale. 

That's true for a contract to remain in force for the duration of the minimum term after a price increase. In fact it was true before January, what's changed is that the amount of the increase must be stated rather than having an increase based on RPI/CPI, the value of which cannot be known at the time the contract is signed.

Sky Mobile (and others) are different in that they do not have an annual increase, however they may increase their prices at any time during the minimum term. At that point you can choose to pay the increase or end the contract without penalty.

EDIT : We are cross-posting, don't think there's any contradiction in our findings although it's still rather opaque.

HaroldWhistler

flaneurs_lobster said:

HaroldWhistler said:

Does TopCashback work for the offers on Sky's own website?

Certainly should do. Start on the TopCashback site and click through

https://www.topcashback.co.uk/sky-mobile/

Read the bit of bumph there about keeping the order number etc in case of any claim.

Doesn't hurt if you were to clear down cookies on an instance of your browser beforehand, gives the tracking cookies that the sites use more chance to "bite".

It was my understanding that after January 2025, any new contract by any provider - who has a price increase during the contract term - has to state what and when the increase will be upfront at the point of sale. 

That's true for a contract to remain in force for the duration of the minimum term after a price increase. In fact it was true before January, what's changed is that the amount of the increase must be stated rather than having an increase based on RPI/CPI, the value of which cannot be known at the time the contract is signed.

Sky Mobile (and others) are different in that they do not have an annual increase, however they may increase their prices at any time during the minimum term. At that point you can choose to pay the increase or end the contract without penalty.

EDIT : We are cross-posting, don't think there's any contradiction in our findings although it's still rather opaque.

That makes sense and is clear now! 

Good shout on TopCashback. 

Many thanks for your help!