Could the Regulator Finally Put a Stop to Phone Companies Juice‑Pumping You?
Picture this: you’re humming along to a tidy “bundle” that lets you hit up a brand‑new phone and then just chill on your monthly bill as you pay it off. It sounds great—until you realise you’re actually paying for a phone you already own. That is, until Ofcom’s nanny might be ready to swoop in and put a stop to the extra charges.
What’s the Lowdown?
Our friend, Ofcom, the UK telecom watchdog, recently fired up a campaign because the way mobile deals are composed leaves us all pretty clueless. Many customers can’t see the split between airtime and handset costs in their contracts. That’s a recipe for a tidy little bill‑overcharge problem.
Now, of course, most operators will cut the monthly figures once you’ve paid off your phone and your contract period ends. But here’s the kicker: about 1.5 million customers end up paying for a device they already own. That’s like paying for bread a week after you’ve finished battering it.
Where Lines Are Getting a Little Curious
- On launch day you’re told you’re getting the phone and everything else in one tidy bundle.
- But the contract’s hidden silence means you can’t tell which part of your bill is for the handset.
- When the contract runs its course the months are supposed to shrink, but some keep paying the dial‑up of the bash‑about phone.
What’s Lindsey Fussell (Ofcom’s Consumer Director) Gotting at?
She’ve been singing that mobile customers deserve the best‑possible deal—any more than an overly packed pizza or a taxi that keeps charging you for furiously going uphill. She’s worried that people are not told, or cannot tell, exactly how much they’re paying for, so she’s expanding the programme to grab a clear hand on this.
In other words: if you’re the kind of person who likes to know what’s up with your phone bill, you’re in for a relief. Ofcom has taken a stance to make the handset charges fully transparent, not just when you hit the contract but when the exact time your minimum subscription ends.
Want to Stay in the Loop?
Some shout you can check the official tweet for more details: https://t.co/RK9t17pTXu – but bear in mind it’s just a quick, real‑time upgrade to get real‑time updates about that category directly on your device.
Now you’ll be ready to call out any extra charges that seem out of place—and you can rest easy knowing that Ofcom’s putting their foot forward to keep a watchful eye on our bills.
