Tesco Mobile Introduce UK Price Hikes – But Clubcard Users Have Options
Customers of UK mobile provider Tesco Mobile, which is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) on O2’s (VMO2) platform, has confirmed that it will scrap last year’s fixed price promise for some customers and significantly increase their prices from April 2023. But those with Clubcards may still be able to take fixed price tariffs.
The operator has published a ‘Changes To Our Pricing‘ page that explains what’s going to happen in more detail. But in short, if your contract ended before 1st February 2023 then, from April 2023, some of Tesco Mobile’s basic monthly tariffs and plans will rise in line with the 10.5% Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate of inflation published in January 2023 + 3.9% (those who are still in-contract will see this impact them next year, once out of contract).
However, customers who take out any deal before 27th March 2023, or one of their exclusive Clubcard Price deals from 27th March 2023, won’t need to worry about their bill going up mid-contract – because they promise to freeze your basic monthly usage price or basic monthly price (depending on your contract type) for the length of your contract.
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A Tesco Mobile spokesperson said:
“At Tesco Mobile, we’re committed to offering our customers great value. That’s why we’re freezing prices for the length of a customer’s contract through Clubcard Prices. We’re proud to be one of the only networks to offer frozen prices.
As well as having the reassurance that their bill won’t go up mid-contract, customers who choose a Clubcard Price deal will also receive all the other brilliant benefits a Tesco Clubcard provides. This includes exclusive savings on products, money off grocery and fuel bills, and vouchers to use with over 100 Reward Partners.”
Just to be clear, simply having a Clubcard isn’t enough, after 27th March the only way to get a fixed price plan will be to pick one of their special Clubcard Price deals. But for existing customers who are within their contract term, there are no changes, yet. They’ll continue to benefit from frozen prices for the length of their current contract.
As usual, anybody expecting to be hit by this could try to regrade their package before 27th March with Tesco Mobile or, if you’re already out-of-contract, then you could also consider switching to a different operator. Meanwhile, those on benefits (Universal Credit etc.) also have the option of taking a cheaper Social Tariff – see our Quick Guide to UK Social Tariffs.
The good news is that the rate of inflation is now falling, thus those who aren’t expecting to be hit until next year’s increase should find the 2024 rise to be much smaller.
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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https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21420660/tesco-mobile-court-bad-reception/?rec_article=true
Discounts in return for your data!
What’s the problem if the person buying is ok with it?
As long as people are aware what they’ve agreed to absolutely no problem at all.
I will give it a miss, happy with Smarty. I know someone who had Tesco mobile around 3 years ago a when ever I phone them, and they answered it would cut off, but they could phone me right back and all was fine. Very strange
One way transmission problem – Landline and Mobile – re prov sim sorts that – if they had only asked hey!
@haha, What?
I just ended my contract in January with Tesco, Which will be paid off on Wednesday, Looks like i did it just in time lol
I don’t know why so many people with contracts, unless they want the latest greatest phone and can’t afford it out right. Buy your own phone and get a sim only monthly thing like Smarty does.
I will never go back to a contract with mobiles, a shame we can’t do with wired broadband without paying a small fortune
@ad47uk
>Buy your own phone and get a sim only monthly thing like Smarty does
I agree 100%, It was only last year i realised i dont need the latest phone, Budget phones do the exact same thing my current S20 FE does, And i dont play games on phones so it doesn’t make sense for me to have latest phone.
In the future im just going to get a budget smart phone and 1 month rolling sim.
The main difference between flagships and budget options nowadays is mainly gaming performance, for most people a £150 phone is sufficient.
If you renew the contract, you lose free EU roaming after “late spring 2023”? But if you don’t renew you get the price rise.
I have just spoken to a Tesco Mobile customer rep and they confirmed that if you were on a club card deal before the 27th the price you pay will stay frozen forever (even when your contract end and becomes a monthly rolling contract) I actually find that really hard to believe.