New law will allow customers to quit mobile/broadband contracts over price hikes

James Cox

The Government has approved the introduction of legislation to allow people to quit their phone and broadband contracts if there are price hikes.

Companies will now have to provide advance notice ahead of a price rise, and allow consumers to exit contracts without charge.

Most people are subject to at least one price increase per year, and in some cases the hikes are three per cent plus the rate of inflation.

Minister for Communications Patrick O'Donovan sai the rise has been subtle.

"It's quite unfair to consumers, they aren't even aware in many cases that they are paying it. It's small money in terms of subtle increases per annum.

"A lot of people don't even change mobile providers from year to year, so over the number of years it's a substantial increase, and as I said a while ago... if you multiply it out over the population, it's a lot of money."