Can my mobile price rise mid-contract?

Before January 2025, most UK mobile contracts included annual price rises tied to inflation (typically CPI or RPI plus 3.9%). Customers often signed up not knowing what their bill would be in year two. Ofcom banned this practice for new contracts from 17 January 2025, requiring providers to set out any mid-contract increases in fixed cash amounts before you buy.

For contracts signed on or after 17 January 2025, the monthly price and any planned rises must be shown clearly at point of sale — in pounds and pence, not as a formula. This lets you compare deals on a like-for-like basis and know your maximum bill for the full minimum term. SIM-only and phone contracts are both covered.

If a provider tries to increase your bill beyond what was disclosed when you signed, Ofcom treats that as a material change and you should have the right to cancel without an early termination fee. Contact the provider in writing, quote the terms you were given at sign-up, and ask for a penalty-free exit if the rise was not pre-agreed.

Contracts signed before 17 January 2025 may still contain CPI-linked rises until the minimum term ends. Providers must give at least 30 days' notice and, under general consumer rules, must offer a penalty-free exit if the change is materially detrimental. When your term expires, compare SIM-only and new contract deals under the clearer 2025 rules.