Three Mobile Announces Bill Increases for Customers Starting April
Three Mobile customers across the UK are being notified of an upcoming increase to their phone bills, set to take effect from April 1. This change will see monthly charges rise by as much as £2.30, which translates to an annual increase of £27.60 for mobile and broadband users, depending on their specific data allowances.
Broadband Customers Also Affected
In addition to mobile users, home broadband customers with Three will experience a higher adjustment, with bills increasing by £3.50 per month. Over the course of a year, this amounts to an extra £42 in charges for broadband services.
New Ofcom Regulations Drive Changes
This billing adjustment follows the implementation of new rules by Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator. These regulations mandate that telecoms companies must clearly outline mid-contract price increases in pounds and pence, providing greater transparency for consumers.
The rules were initially applied to new customers starting last November, but are now being extended to include existing Three Mobile subscribers as well.
Contract Correction and Customer Options
Three Mobile has stated that this move is part of a "correction" to customer contracts. Due to a technical issue, some customers did not receive complete documentation regarding annual price increases when their contracts were originally set up.
As a result of this oversight, Three is offering affected customers the opportunity to leave their contracts penalty-free within 30 days of notification. This provides subscribers with an exit option if they are dissatisfied with the upcoming price changes.
Company Communication and Apology
In emails sent to customers this week, a Three spokesperson acknowledged the error, stating: "We're getting in touch because a technical issue meant the original Contract Summary and Contract Information documents you received, when your contract was set up, did not include details of your annual price increase which occurs each April. We're sorry this happened."
The company emphasized that all other documentation, including Contract Agreement Forms, contained the correct information about annual increases. Three is now working to correct and re-issue the affected documents to ensure customers have accurate records.
What This Means for Three Mobile Users
Despite the billing increases, Three has clarified that there will be no changes to customers' actual service plans. Subscribers can continue using their mobile and broadband services as usual, with the only difference being the adjusted monthly charges.
The company faces competition from other major providers including Vodafone, O2, Virgin Media, and EE, making customer retention particularly important during this period of price adjustments.
Customers are advised to watch for updated contract documents arriving via email or post, and to store these for their personal records. The notification process is currently underway, with affected subscribers receiving communication throughout the week.
