One-week warning over ‘ridiculous’ bill rise that telly fans are FUMING over – and how to beat it
TELLY fans are furious over a “ridiculous” bill rise set to happen in a week.
Disney+ is set to increase the price of its premium subscription from March 24.
The streaming giant made changes to its subscriptions at the end of last year which saw premium subscriptions increase from £7.99 to 10.99 a month.
It also introduced a three-tier streaming streaming service that gives users the option of selecting from new rates.
The new system is as follows:
- Disney+ standard (with Ads) – £4.99 a month
- Disney+ standard (without Ads) – £7.99 a month (or £79.90 annually)
- Disney+ premium – £10.99 a month (or £109.90 annually)
The two standard tiers will allow customers to stream content with a resolution of up to 1080p.
Most existing customers will have automatically moved to the Disney+ premium from November last year.
These companies are really taking the p***
Social media user
However, customers who are signed up to an annual subscription will see their bill rise this month when the yearly renewal is due.
Annual subscribers who have been notified about the price increase are not happy about the change and have taken to social media to vent their frustration.
One person said: “I can’t believe Disney+ has gone up by £30 for a yearly subscription, these companies are really taking the p***.”
Another added: “The price hikes are ridiculous when you think of how much the fat cats have in their bank accounts.”
A third person said: “Like always there is no reason for them to hike up the price, there’s no need.”
How much have Disney+ subscription prices increased?
When the streaming service first launched in 2020, it cost just £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year.
This would give you access to all the TV shows and movies on the streaming service without adverts.
However, it did not take long for the price to increase as in February 2021 the price rose to £7.99 a month, or £79.90 a year.
The price rise also came with the addition of STAR shows and movies on Disney+ programming.
But its recent increase announced in November last year has caused the most controversy.
This price rise will see some annual bills reach more than £100 a year.
How to keep your Disney+ bill down
There are ways you can keep your Disney+ costs down if you enjoy the channel.
Choosing an annual subscription as opposed to a monthly one will reduce your bill regardless of which subscription tier you choose.
For example, if you pick the Disney+ standard annual subscription you will pay £79.90 for the whole year as opposed to £95.88 split across 12 months.
Similarly, the new premium Disney+ subscription will cost £131.88 a year if paid monthly but the annual subscription is £20 cheaper at £109.90.
Choosing to pay annually also means that if the subscription prices go up again, your price will be guaranteed until it is time to renew.
Choosing a cheaper subscription tier can help keep costs down.
If you are prepared to sit through ads you can choose the cheapest Disney+ subscription which is just £4.99 a month.
Remember you should always check which services you are using and cancel the services you don’t make the most of.
If you pay monthly you are not usually locked in, so you can always change up your services.
Can I get Disney+ cheaper or for free?
There are some hacks you can use to keep your subscription costs down or even get them completely free.
Tesco Clubcard holders can exchange their points for a subscription to Disney+.
You can double the value of your points when you spend them with certain retailers, meaning you could swap £12 of Clubcard points for a three-month subscription.
If you are an O2 customer you could also be in luck as the mobile phone provider has also offered a subscription of up to six months for Disney+ to new customers or those upgrading their plan.
Likewise, if you switch to any Club Lloyds bank account you can choose one of five perks on your account one of which is a 12-month subscription service to Disney+.
The accounts do have a monthly fee that can be waivered if you meet the right requirements so it’s worth checking if the account is right for you.
Many providers such as phone companies, banks and energy firms have deals, and some of them include subscription services, so it is worth keeping an eye out.
