Vodafone to hike prices by 14.4% - can you leave penalty-free?

(Image credit: SOPA images)

published 27 February 2023

Vodafone will hike prices for its broadband and mobile customers by 14.4%, but not all customers will be affected - find out where you stand and what your options are.

Vodafone matches Tesco Mobile with a 14.4% price hike on mobile plans and sets its broadband price increase slightly higher than BT, EE and Three, which are hiking prices by 14.1%.

Here’s everything you need to know if you’re a Vodafone customer and what you’re options are.

Vodafone hikes

Will the Vodafone broadband hikes affect you?

If you’re a Vodafone broadband and landline customer who signed up between 2 February 2021 and 23 February 2023, you bill will go up by 14.4% from April.

Vodafone broadband and landline customers who signed up on or after 24 February 2023 will not be affected by the price increase.

Those on the Vodafone Essentials plan (its social tariff) will see no price hike on their broadband bill.

If you are on a Vodafone broadband and landline plan but signed up before 2 February 2021, the price hike that will affect your bill will be announced in March, based on February’s RPI figure.

Will the Vodafone Mobile hikes affect you?

Mobile, tablet or smartwatch users who signed a contract between 8 December 2020 and 23 February 2023 will see a 14.4% hike.

But note, if you’re on a Vodafone EVO plan, you will only see the 14.4% hike on your airtime plan, not on what you pay for your device.

Vodafone mobile customers who signed up on or after 24 February 2023, you will see no price hike until April 2024.

If you signed up for a Vodafone mobile plan before 9 December 2020, your price hike will be announced in March based on February’s RPI figures.

What are my options?

If you are still within your minimum term contract, whether that’s mobile or broadband then you cannot leave penalty-free.

If you are out of your minimum-term contract, you can leave penalty-free. But note that most providers are also hiking their prices, so it’s a matter of shopping around and seeing which offers a better deal.

So far is Shell Energy is hiking prices by 13.5%, Virgin Media is hiking its prices by 13.8% and Sky Mobile is hiking its prices by 9%. So it’s worth checking these providers if you’re looking for a cheaper contract.

If you are stuck in your contract for a while, it’s still not all bad news. Use the power of haggling to get more for your money or see if Vodafone is willing to price-match another provider.

If you can’t afford to pay your bill due to the price hike, it’s best to get in contact with Vodafone as soon as possible to explain your circumstances and see if you can work out an affordable payment plan.

Vaishali graduated in journalism from Leeds University. She has gained experience writing local stories around Leeds and Leicester, which includes writing for a university publication and Leicester Mercury.

She has also done some marketing and copywriting for businesses.

When she is not writing about personal finance, Vaishali likes to travel and she's a foodie.