Millions of consumers with bundled mobile phone contracts could receive a “double whammy” on bills. The contracts typically combine the handset with the cost of data, and customers across the country could be impacted amid the Cost of Living crisis.
Rob Orr, chief operating officer at Virgin Media O2 said: “In 2013, we led the mobile industry by launching O2 Refresh, the market’s first split contract. Not only does this protect consumers from paying extra for their devices while in contract, it also means they’ll never pay for a phone that’s rightfully theirs once the deal comes to an end.
“Since we first called on the industry to ‘Stop the Smartphone Swindle’, consumers have forked out the best part of £500 million paying for phones they already own. This impending price rise double, or even triple, whammy is set to only worsen the problem.”
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Millions of customers on bundled contracts with EE and Three are set to pay an extra £50m towards the cost of their devices as annual hikes hit bills. Customers who are out of contract at risk of a price triple whammy as annual hikes set to hit device repayments, airtime tariffs and phones that have already been paid for
Virgin Media O2 is urging customers to split, switch, save and share to avoid overpaying for their smartphones. Virgin Media O2 is urging consumers to use its online calculator to check if they’re overpaying for their smartphones and to follow four simple steps to prevent it from happening in the future:
Virgin Media explains: “Split – your device and airtime wherever possible. Switch – if you are at risk of overpaying for your handset at the end of your contract and don’t have the option to split your bill, switch to another operator.”
“Save – money by being aware of this issue and never overpaying for your handset,” it adds. “Share – tell friends and family if you think they might be paying for a phone they already own.”
