19/05/2017
While competition is delivering choice and value overall in communications services, not all consumers are benefiting from it. Ofcom has identified a number of areas where pricing trends have potential to result in consumer detriment, particularly for older people and those with less disposable income.
‘Pricing trends for communications services in the UK’ identifies these areas as
- increases in the price of fixed line services, notably line rental
- increases in some out-of-bundle call prices
- mobile handsets may cost more when purchased with a post pay (contract) mobile service
- some people fail to switch to a cheaper SIM-only service at the end of their contract
- tariffs are becoming increasingly complex
- unengaged consumers may fail to take advantage of promotional discounting
- sophisticated price discounting can compound price-complexity issues
Ofcom also announces it will initiate a call cost review to ensure consumers are protected from high prices and unfair practices resulting from the rising cost of calling two telephone services –
- directory enquiry service numbers beginning with 118
- ‘personal’ or ‘follow me’ service numbers, beginning with 070 and allowing users to be contacted on any phone at any location