Broadband

Millions of BT, EE, O2, Plusnet, Shell, Sky, TalkTalk, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone customers are being hit with price hikes of up to 17.3% this year, on the back of a sharp increase in the cost of living. We've a handy table below on what's happening and who's affected.

Most Now Broadband customers will see their bills increase by £42 a year (£3.50 a month) from 5 July, the provider has announced. However, those on its social tariff won't see prices rise, while those who are affected can cancel penalty-free. Below we've full info on the increase and what you can do about it.

BT customers have complained that they've been forced into overdrafts after payments were wrongly taken twice this month. The telecommunications giant said it will refund any duplicate payments taken automatically.

Millions more households on low incomes may now be able to get Virgin Media's discounted broadband social tariffs, as the provider has expanded the list of qualifying benefits and made it easier to sign up. Below we explain who's eligible for the cheaper deals, how they compare and how to get them.

A review into mid-contract price hikes on mobile and broadband bills has been launched by the telecoms regulator, amid concerns that providers aren't being clear enough about what customers can expect to pay during the full length of their contract.

Virgin Media has cut the cost of its 'Essential' broadband tariff for households on universal credit, from £15 a month to £12.50 a month – making it the cheapest social tariff on the market. The price drop is effective immediately for both new and existing customers. The provider has also launched a new faster plan, available from today (10 November), which costs £20 a month.

Almost eight million people in the UK are currently struggling to pay their bills, according to the financial regulator. If you are facing financial difficulty, we explain how to check if you're eligible for support and how to try and cut costs and save on essential bills. 

Sky has launched a new service that allows subscribers to access Sky TV, plus Netflix and other channels, without the need for a satellite dish. 'Sky Stream' is available from today (18 October). Below we detail how it works and how it compares with other Sky products, Freeview, and Netflix.

Millions of households on low incomes are missing out on average savings of almost £150 a year on their broadband bills, according to Ofcom. The industry regulator has called on providers to better advertise discounted deals for those on benefits – see a full list of available tariffs below.

Shell Energy broadband customers who joined the provider or renewed their contract before this year will see their prices hiked from 1 September. All home phone users will also see the cost of calls made outside of their package rise - but some will be able to leave penalty-free as a result.