Over 1.6 million mobile and broadband customers are warned they could be at risk of overpaying on their bills from this November, with a huge number of deals set to expire. Analysis by Uswitch, the comparison and switching service, highlights the urgency of checking contract end dates ahead of the Black Friday sales period. This is a key time because mobile and broadband deals often run on a 12 or 24-month cycle, meaning the Black Friday shopping period is also the key expiration window for millions of customers.

Broadband customers who let their fixed-term contracts lapse are often rolled onto more expensive rates, which can be up to 70 per cent more costly. Switching to a new broadband deal can save consumers an average of £203 over a year.

Most at risk are the hundreds of thousands of customers whose bundled mobile contracts – combining handset and airtime – are about to expire. When customers take out a bundled phone contract, they are effectively paying off the handset cost with theur monthly bills. Once the initial contract ends, they’ve legally finished paying off the device – yet for many, this won’t be reflected in their monthly payments. Some customers will continue to pay the same amount as before, if not more, for a phone they now own outright.

For mobile users who are happy with their current phone, moving to a SIM Only plan is the quickest way to cut costs. By moving from a lapsing 24-month handset contract to a SIM Only deal, the average customer could save around £321 a year.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch, commented:  “November is one of the most important months of the year to check your contract status. With over 1.6 million consumers estimated to be coming to the end of their existing deals, this is the window where you can bag a Black Friday bargain and save hundreds of pounds. The key is to act now – before your contract automatically rolls over onto a more expensive monthly rate. For mobile customers, don’t pay for a phone you own – a simple switch to a cheaper SIM Only plan could save you hundreds. For broadband users, start comparing deals now to get your new service in place before the sales end”.

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Categories: Articles, Broadband, ISP, MNO, Mobile, Research

Tags: black friday, broadband, ISP, uswitch