The rule in short
Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom has banned UK phone, broadband and pay-TV providers from including inflation-linked or percentage-based price rise terms in new contracts. Any price rises written into a contract must be set out clearly in pounds and pence at the point of sale, so you know the cost in advance.
What it means when you compare deals
- Look in the contract summary for the scheduled rise, usually each April.
- Add up the total cost over the whole minimum term, including those rises.
- Two deals with the same starting price can cost different amounts over 24 months.
Can I leave if my price goes up?
If a price rise was clearly set out in your contract, you generally can’t leave penalty-free because of it. But if your provider raises prices in a way that wasn’t clearly set out, or changes terms to your detriment, you may have the right to leave without paying exit fees. You must normally be given at least one month’s notice of such a change.
Older contracts
The rule applies to contracts taken out from January 2025. If you signed earlier, your contract may still include inflation-linked or percentage rises. Providers that signed the government’s Telecoms Consumer Charter agreed that April 2026 would be the last time they apply inflation-linked increases. When your contract ends, compare a new deal.
Note that the rule makes rises clear, but doesn’t cap them: providers still set their own prices.
Last updated: 12 October 2026
