Ofcom launch Consumer Hub with money saving tips for UK broadband, mobile and TV users
The UK telecoms, media and internet content regulator, Ofcom, has today launched a new Consumer Hub that is said to feature “practical money-saving tips and tools” for every mobile, fixed broadband and pay-TV customer. The launch comes as new research claims that many out-of-contract customers who bundle services from the same provider could save over £100 a year by switching.
According to Ofcom’s data, communications services are “affordable for most people”, but 4% of telecoms customers still missed a payment last quarter – as many struggle with the rising cost of living. Additionally, 12% of respondents said they made changes to a service or reduced spend elsewhere (10%), and some (7%) cancelled a service.
The new Consumer Hub thus aims to help people by providing various money-saving tips, assistance with common service problems (e.g. switching provider), information on common consumer protections that not everybody may be familiar with and details on how you can complain when things go wrong. Simple, but useful.
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Natalie Black, Ofcom’s Group Director of Infrastructure and Connectivity, said:
“We know that many people feel worried about their bills creeping up, but with a few simple steps, some customers could achieve big savings.
Our advice to everyone with a broadband, mobile, pay-TV or landline contract is to check whether you’re in or out of contract, compare the offers out there, and if right for you then switch and save. All the advice you need is at ofcom.org.uk/onyourside.”
The launch of the new portal comes only a day after a new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) called on the government and regulators to do more, including among other things the establishment of an organisation with responsibility for providing “free advice to telecoms consumers“ (i.e. a statutory consumer advocate in the telecoms sector).
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Stop in contract price rises may be a good idea, bbut this is Ofcom we are on about, as useless as the rest of them
If providers are to be barred from offering mid-term contract price rises on two-year contracts, then they are likely to cut back to one-year contracts but with higher premiums and other measures to both cover costs and to minimise customer switching.
@Far2329Light and yet some alternative networks seems to cope with 12 months and no price rises and ever 24 months and not price rises.
It is a load of bull and you know it, these companies do it because they can get away with it and nothing is done. They would not increase prices because of competition.
As I said, Ofcom, useless.
Agreed, at least a Chocolate teapot has a single 1 time use.
@ Ad47uk:
“Cope” is a poor choice of wording when none of the AltNets has yet achieved a sustainable business model.
How about they just stop meddling and let the companies that want to price gouge themselves into oblivion, do so? All this “competition” and “switching” is just an unnecessary hassle, especially with the altnets who all have their own separate lines and ONT. Imagine having to have new power cables and meters installed each time you switched electricity provider?
The pounds and pence price rise rules have shafted people on more budget conscious tariffs as they are in effect facing higher price rises compared to those on more expensive plans.
We should have had a country wide network installed by a non-profit making company, that all providers can use, sadly we have what we have.
Who is price gouging? Virtually no one (likely only one network provider as of now) is making a profit on these services.
More useful than some of Ofcom’s other activities, such as fining 4chan…
Martin lewis has better tips than ofcom