Mobile phone users are being hit with ‘shocking’ mid-contract price hikes by the country’s biggest networks.
The big four network giants – O2, EE, Vodafone and Three – were outperformed by smaller firms in a survey of best and worst mobile phone providers by consumer group Which?.
Consumers could be finding better value and good service with smaller virtual networks such as Smarty, Giffgaff and Tesco Mobile, Which? said.
The survey of 3,400 mobile customers found Three scored the lowest out of the big four, with a customer score of 66 per cent.
Customers were the most likely to experience poor phone signal and network dropouts, PA has reported.
Three customers were the most likely to experience poor phone signal and network dropouts, PA has reported (stock image)
Vodafone fared slightly better with a customer score of 68 per cent while O2 and EE both scored 69 per cent with ‘mediocre’ scores across the board.
Tesco Mobile flew to the top of the rankings at 80 per cent while Giffgaff and Smarty were rated highly for value for money with scores of 75 per cent. Mobile providers were contacted for comment.
It comes as the UK’s biggest providers were among those who pushed ahead with price hikes of up to 17% in the middle of people’s contracts earlier this month, as living costs soared for households.
The move left ‘millions caught in a Catch-22 where they either have to accept costly fee hikes or pay exorbitant fees to leave early’, Which? said.
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Watchdog Ofcom is in the midst of a review into inflation-linked price rises, with initial findings set to be published later this year.
‘At a time when household finances are already under significant strain, it is vital for customers to have sufficient certainty about the prices they will pay over the course of their contract,’ Ofcom said.
Tesco Mobile flew to the top of the rankings at 80 per cent while Giffgaff and Smarty were rated highly for value for money (stock image)
Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, added: ‘Which? believes it’s absolutely critical that Ofcom’s review of inflation linked mid-contract hikes results in changes that ensure customers are never trapped in this situation again.’
In response to the cost-of-living crisis, Which? said it has begun endorsing mobile phone providers which offer outstanding value for consumers wanting a cheap and useful amount of data.
Smarty, Giffgaff and iD Mobile all met the criteria for offering cheap sim-only deals.
But Tesco Mobile was stripped of its recommended provider endorsement despite being the highest scoring network.
This is because it has begun ‘baking above-inflation price increases into new customer contracts despite previously championing fixed prices’, Which? said, with price hikes starting from April next year.
Mobile providers have been contacted for comment.
