How millions of Sky customers can avoid £38 year bill rise as emails land in inboxes
SKY has begun writing to customers to let them know how much their broadband and TV bills will increase this spring.
The telecoms giant said earlier this month that the average customer will see their bill rise by 6.2% from April 1.
The amount your bill will rise depends on what services you have.
Last year, it hiked the cost of its contracts by an average of 6.7%, while in 2023 prices rose by a hefty 8.1%.
The emails sent to customers will explain how much their bills will rise and whether they can leave without paying a fee.
Sky is contacting customers in batches and will do so until March 20. Letters will be sent to customers from February 21.
Notifications will be sent in priority order based on customer billing dates.
For example, those who are billed on the 1st of the month will receive their notifications first, the 2nd next, and so on.
Sky said this is to ensure all customers are notified of any price changes at least 30 days before they come into effect.
Can you leave penalty free?
Mobile and broadband customers have 30 days from when they receive an email to get out of their contract without being hit with an exit fee.
That means customers who receive an email today have until March 21 to change their contract fee-free.
However, broadband and TV customers won’t necessarily be able to leave fee-free unless they are out of contract.
If you do not receive a notification by this date, you should speak to Sky directly.
Sky charges mobile and broadband customers a penalty of up to £43 to exit a package early.
The exact cost varies depending on the type of product and package you have.
We have compiled a list of the highest charges below.
For example, Sky Fibre Unlimited Pro customers who took out a contract after April 1, 2024, must pay £43.17 to leave their contract early.
If you are out of contract with Sky, you can ditch your deal and switch provider at any time.
If you are in a fixed-term contract and are worried about being able to pay the higher price, get in touch with Sky.
It will take steps to help you manage your bills.
Inflation-linked price hikes
TELECOM firms have come under fire for above-inflation mid-contract price rises on fixed contracts for the past four years.
Due to clauses in contracts, providers can impose annual rises, usually in April.
The hikes are tied to either the Consumer Price Index or Retail Price Index inflation rate, which has soared during the cost-of-living crisis.
It means millions of customers faced hikes of up to 8.8% this year — adding as much as £50 to bills.
Firms argue that they need to be able to increase prices to keep up with rising costs.
But consumer experts argue that a fixed contract should live up to its name — and stay fixed.
How much your bill will rise
Sky’s price adjustments are not based on inflation, which means the amount your bill will increase depends on the Sky products you have and any additional services you subscribe to.
If you currently pay £39 a month for Sky TV, Netflix and Full Fibre 150 broadband then your bill will increase by £2.42.
From April you will pay £41.42 a month.
Customers who pay £35 per month for Sky’s Essential TV and Full Fibre 150 will see their bill rise to £37.17 a month.
This is an increase of £2.17 a month, or £26.04 a year.
Meanwhile, those who are subscribed to Sky’s Essential TV and Full Fibre Gigafast Broadband at £51 a month will see their bill rise to £54.16 a month.
This is a cost increase of £3.16, or £37.92 a year.
A Sky spokesperson said: “Our Sky broadband and TV products will see an average increase of 6.2% from April.
“We have worked hard to minimise the financial impact to customers while ensuring we maintain incredible value across our products and continue to invest in the services and experiences they know and love.”
Sky also owns Now Broadband and will extend the same mid-contract price increases to customers of this service.
Sky Broadband Basics social tariffs will be exempt from the price increases.
Other broadband and TV providers
BT and EE broadband customers will see their bills rise from March 31.
Those who took out a deal before April 11, 2024, will see their bill increase by 6.4%.
Meanwhile, those who signed up for a deal from April 11 will see prices hiked by a flat fee of £3.
Three broadband customers who took out a new deal before September 8 will see their bills soar by 6.4%.
But those who signed up for a deal after this date will see it hiked by a flat £2 fee.
Vodafone broadband customers who took out a deal before July 2 will see their bills hiked by 6.9%.
Anyone who took out a deal after this deal will see theirs go up by £3.
Virgin Media customers who took out a deal before January 8 will see their bills increase 7.5%.
Customers who took out a new contract with Virgin Media after January 9 will see their bill increase by £3.50 every April.
Plusnet is hiking the price of its broadband deals from March 31.
If you took out a contract before July 11, 2025, you’ll see it go up by 6.4%.
Anyone who took out a contract after this date will see their deals go up by £3 from the end of March.
TalkTalk is hiking prices for internet customers on April 1.
If you took out a deal before August 12, 2024, you’ll see it rise by 6.4%.
If you signed up for a contract from August 12, your monthly charge will rise by £3.