UK Watchdog Sanctions Broadband Providers for Misleading Price Ads
The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled against six major telecom companies for not clearly disclosing mid-contract price increases.
- BT, EE, Plusnet, TalkTalk, O2, and Virgin Media were found to have obscured information about price hikes in their advertising.
- The ASA's new guidelines demand that any future price increases be clearly stated in advertising, with full costs presented prominently.
- Telecom companies often raise prices annually by linking them to inflation indices, but this practice will change following Ofcom's ban.
- Consumers have faced price hikes as high as 8.8% this year, with some providers charging exit fees for early contract termination.
- Research suggests telecom companies could generate £488 million from mid-contract price increases in 2024.
The Guardian 
The Independent 
Evening Standard 