Now TV Broadband Price Hikes

Blighted

Just to let everyone know who may be taking out a contract with NOW TV Broadband.

A FIXED TERM CONTRACT IS NOT FIXED!!   They can change the price whenever they like even though the contract states your price is fixed for 12 months.

 I had a renewal reminder that my price would be increased from £21/mth to £41.50/mth. I renegotiated to £24/month.  3 months later they sent an email from a SKY address which goes in my email bin to say they were increasing the price by £3 / mth. Leave if you want without penalty.  

I consider this outrageous!!  OFCOM say as long as they are transparent its fair enough.  I can say that my contract does not have any reference to the possibility the price might change mid contract and to send an email from a SKY address not in my address book to inform me of their unilateral decision is absolutely not transparent.

I will change providers but does anyone know of any course of action to enforce the contract??

Thanks for your attention.

Ayr_Rage

That's the way it has always been with Sky, read the Ts and Cs and if they do increase prices then they give you the Get Out Of Jail Free card.

As there are numerous Sky addresses and the important one went to spam is no excuse, you should check your spam/bin regularly.

Edit in

MyRealNameToo

Blighted said:

A FIXED TERM CONTRACT IS NOT FIXED!!   They can change the price whenever they like even though the contract states your price is fixed for 12 months.

 I had a renewal reminder that my price would be increased from £21/mth to £41.50/mth. I renegotiated to £24/month.  3 months later they sent an email from a SKY address which goes in my email bin to say they were increasing the price by £3 / mth. Leave if you want without penalty.  

I consider this outrageous!!  OFCOM say as long as they are transparent its fair enough.  I can say that my contract does not have any reference to the possibility the price might change mid contract and to send an email from a SKY address not in my address book to inform me of their unilateral decision is absolutely not transparent.

I will change providers but does anyone know of any course of action to enforce the contract??

Fixed term, by definition means the term, aka duration, is fixed. It would be an assumption that the price is also fixed and a fairly poor one at that depending on the term. 

However most things like broadband or telephony services are not even a fixed term contract but instead are a minimum term contract as a fixed term would automatically cease at the end of the term and these dont. They are a perpetual contract with a minimum term and notice period for termination. 

Blighted

Thanks Ayr-rage for commenting.. The Clause you quote is not in my contract or any correspondence I have received.   

The only relevant points as far as I can tell  in my contract are:


Broadband: Super Fibre, Part Fibre technology £24:00 per month for 12 months, £41.50 per month thereafter.

Then..

Prices may increase, including during the minimum term, unless we have agreed a fixed price with you.  We will let you know of any material change in advance.

Then ...

You may en this contract during your minimum term without paying early termination charges if we make a change which is not exclusively to your benefit unless it is purely administrative in nature or imposed by law and we have notified you of that right,

My understanding:
1. I had a fixed price contract and minimum term of 12 months.
2.  The price could change if I didnt have a fixed price contract.
3. The unilateral price increase is not for my benefit so I can cancel without charge.

So I still wonder why others who have this same contract are not holding this provider to their offered and agreed contract.

I would love to get to the bottom of this legally. If there is a contracts lawyer looking at this poist I would be happy to provide my contract for a detailed review.  

Thank you.....

Ayr_Rage

@Blighted in your OP you said you had A FIXED TERM CONTRACT, not a FIXED PRICE CONTRACT.

From your post above, no mention of a fixed price, therefore you may be subject to in-contract rises as allowed below.

Broadband: Super Fibre, Part Fibre technology £24:00 per month for 12 months, £41.50 per month thereafter.

Then..

Prices may increase, including during the minimum term, unless we have agreed a fixed price with you.  We will let you know of any material change in advance.

Then ...

You may end this contract during your minimum term without paying early termination charges if we make a change which is not exclusively to your benefit unless it is purely administrative in nature or imposed by law and we have notified you of that right,

You aren't the first to have fallen foul of these clauses and won't be the last.

Blighted

Yes but legally ???????

Blighted

Are you say £24 for 12 months only means 12 months not £24. What??????
 

Blighted

Is there a contract lawyer out there?

Ayr_Rage

You don't need a lawyer just a little bit more understanding of the contract wording.

It is £XX for YY months ONLY IF you have agreed a fixed price contract, you did not.

According to the contract they CAN change the price any time within those YY months and then you have the option to leave without penalty.

Blighted

Why do you say I didn't agree to pay £24 for 12 months. That's what happened when I agreed it with their representative.  The salesman!  

Does anyone else who understands contracts have a vie?

southsidergs

Just stop already, it's a legal ptice rise with the option to leave