Virgin Media O2 will increase monthly mobile bills by £2.50 starting April 2026, affecting up to 15 million customers across the UK. The annual £30 increase represents a significant jump from the £21.60 rise previously stated in customer contracts when they signed up.
Consumer finance expert Martin Lewis has sharply criticized the move, calling it a mockery of new consumer protection regulations. «This move feels to me a bit like it makes a mockery of Ofcom’s new ‘pounds and pence’ consumer protection regime, which came in at the start of this year,» Lewis said. The regime, implemented in January 2025, was designed to prevent surprise mid-contract price hikes by requiring providers to clearly state future increases upfront.
Customer Impact and Options
The flat-rate increase will hit customers on cheaper plans hardest, with some facing bill rises of up to 30 percent. A customer paying £8.50 monthly for a 50GB plan will see costs jump to £11, while those on unlimited data plans face a 7 percent increase from £33.99 to £36.49. «Now O2 is also dancing away, increasing contracts by more than it said it would when people signed up. And while that means all its impacted mobile customers can leave penalty-free – and many should – we know few will. Most will likely just have to suck up a rise that was more than they were told when they signed up,» Lewis warned.
O2 defended the decision, citing growing demand for mobile data and network investment needs. «With demand for mobile data at an all-time high, we’re introducing a 70p per month increase to annual price rises for O2 customers, effective each April,» an O2 spokesperson said. The company emphasized that handset costs remain frozen and highlighted its £700 million annual network investment. Customers on social tariffs are exempt from the price changes.
Broader Concerns
