Increase in Pay Monthly charge from April 2026

[Lismore]

I have just been informed that my monthly payment will increase from £1.80 to £2.50 from April 2026 - no explanation given!

This represents an increase of 20% approximately.  As RPI is only 3.9% this month - can this extoronate incresae be explained?

[madasaf1sh]

You need to call o2, read and follow the instructions in the email, which tells you to call o2... 

[phonek]

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@pgn wrote:

Ah, but it's a definite amount now, not 3.9%+the government-calculated CPI figure (inflation rate) as of March 😲🙄😉

More moans here: https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly/Increase-in-Pay-Monthly-charge-from-April-2026/m-p/1817001...

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Yep, this is precisely what I said a while ago too, back in Mar 2025, here: 

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly/2025-price-increases-clarifications/m-p/1783809/highlight/...

The previous % increases were actually better for most users, yet the idea of fixed £ amounts was marketed as somehow being "clearer to understand" by all and sundry – the networks (especially), Ofcom, and pundits like Martin Lewis alike. 

I knew at the time is was going to increase bills higher significantly faster for most users who shop around and are thus on cheap deals, and here we are. More need for account changing churn if you don't want to pay such wastage. Hruumph!

[phonek]

FYI, a certain Martin Lewis has written to the Chancellor on this, on 2025.10.30.Thu: 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/10/o2-price-hike-letter

[...]It is even starting to look like Ofcom's change has resulted in many customers, especially those on cheaper tariffs, seeing far bigger price rises than they would've done on the old mid-contract inflation-linked price rises.

No sh¡t. This was obvious from the start. 

[madasaf1sh]

The funny thing is that prat (Martin Lewis) campaigned for these changes, so is just as complicit as OfCOM and o2..  

[weedug123]

I have been notified my plan is going up by £2.50 in april, I don't qualify for essential tariff as only on state pension no other criteria to allow me on it, so now having to get help from a friend to help me find another cheaper tariff,  can't justify the price rise or afford to keep paying it, 

[weedug123]

put mine up, I started with a virgin sim as I use their tv and broadband,  then sim went to o2, just had to haggle to have my virgin tv and broadband reduced, which I did now £12 a month better off, now trying to find better sim deal as they are charging me £2.50 from April, pensioner now so every penny counts

[phonek]

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@madasaf1sh wrote:

The funny thing is that prat (Martin Lewis) campaigned for these changes, so is just as complicit as OfCOM and o2..  

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Martin Lewis was even on ITV last night (Tue.04.Nov.2025 20:00) telling everyone just how over-the-top up in arms he was...

...not about the fact that we're now charged in £+p rather than %, which is the main problem, but instead he's mad about how they're increasing it above the amount previously said (which amounts to a whopping 8.40/yr or 0.70/mth per user: 2.50/mth new amount - 1.80/mth old amount). 

Talk about missing the point, Lewis. 

[madasaf1sh]

You should have seen the email MSE sent out last night every deal offered was an affiliate link where his entity makes money from each new sign up.. 

He always misses the point... 

[roadie2]

MSE and MArtin Lewis are mounting a campaign to either stop this via OFCOM or suggest alternatives much cheaper

[Enlli]

@roadie2 Alternatives found on one of Mr Lewis's websites where he gets a commission for every sign up.

Irony is they even offer O2