Virgin Media raises prices for new customers: what will change from October.

According to The Sun: Virgin Media is starting to raise prices for its customers on existing contracts today.

Customers who sign new contracts or renew old ones will see an increase of £4 in their monthly bills.

PA: Press Association

Virgin Media is raising tariffs by £4 for new customers signing contracts from today.

This increase is up from the previous one of £3.50.

Those who sign a contract from October 2 will face this price increase next April.

Ernst Dock, a broadband expert from Uswitch, noted that Virgin Media customers may face tariff increases twice before 2027, following the company's shift to 24-month minimum contracts earlier this year.

Update on offers

The company has also revamped its offerings, providing Netflix with ads as standard on its plans over 500 Mbps and TV packages.

He added:

“For customers considering signing up for one of these premium plans, this additional cost could offset an increase of £48 per year.”

However, if you are planning to sign up for one of the basic broadband packages under 500 Mbps, you will not enjoy these benefits and will be subject to the £4 monthly increase.

A Virgin Media representative stated:

“Customers who choose one of our newest packages, offering fantastic value including Netflix as standard across all TV packages and Sky Sports in HD at no extra cost, will see their prices rise by £4 per month each April.”

He also noted:

“This 13 pence daily increase is excellent value for users who use services more than ever and significantly covers the £5 million we invest daily in our networks and services to deliver the fast and reliable connection our customers expect and demand.”

This move follows BT and EE announcing similar price increases in July.

New BT and EE customers who sign up for a broadband package will also face a £4 monthly increase in the middle of their contracts, up from a previous increase of £3.

Plusnet has also raised its prices by £4 since August 5.

Changes for mobile plans

Mobile plans are also subject to price increases for customers of BT, EE, and Plusnet.

Customers on pay-monthly plans without a device and Flex Pay will see their contracts increase by £2.50 in April, while customers with device packages and calling services will face a £4 increase.

These changes occurred after telecommunications companies were instructed by Ofcom to display price increases in pounds and pence from January 17.

Prices usually rise in April in accordance with Consumer Prices Index (CPI) or Retail Prices Index (RPI) plus up to 3.9%.

Under new rules, customers must be provided with accurate information on how much their bills will increase in April.

How to save on broadband bills

Looking for better deals may be the best way to reduce mobile and broadband costs.

Switching to a new service is not necessary if you want to stay with your provider.

The best start for lowering broadband costs will be negotiating a new deal with your provider.

Before reducing your bill, find out what the cheapest deal on the market is and use that information to secure the best deal.

Visit comparison sites like Uswitch.com or Moneysavingexpert.com to find the best offers in the market.

This price increase from Virgin Media is actively discussed in the context of the overall rise in telecommunications service prices in the UK. Promises of investments in networks and services remain on the agenda, but for many consumers, this increase may prompt a review of their payments and a switch to better offers. The market situation may still change, making it important to keep an eye on updates from providers and base your choices on current conditions.