Scottish households warned of £48 broadband bill increase despite being locked into contracts

Scottish households are being urged to check their broadband contracts before another round of price increases potentially adds £48 a year to their bills next spring.

For families already struggling with the cost of living, the prospect of paying more for an essential household service is another unwelcome expense. And what particularly frustrates consumer campaigners is that the increases can happen even when customers are locked into supposedly fixed-term contracts.

The latest warning comes from broadband comparison service Broadband Genie, which is calling for annual mid-contract price rises to be banned altogether.

Its research estimates that broadband price increases in 2026 will generate almost £186 million in additional payments from affected customers across the UK, with concerns that consumers could face an even greater financial burden in 2027.

Broadband Genie is now encouraging people in Scotland to back its campaign to ban mid-contract broadband price increases.

Why Scottish broadband customers could be paying more

Under current rules, broadband providers can include annual price increases in their contracts, meaning the amount customers pay each month can change before their agreement ends.

Some providers have scheduled increases of around £4 a month, equivalent to £48 over a full year at the higher rate. For a household paying £25 monthly, that works out at a 16% increase.

The timing is particularly frustrating for customers who believed that signing an 18-month or 24-month agreement would protect them from changes to their bills.

The issue affects customers across the UK, including Scotland, although individual increases depend on the provider and the terms of each contract.

Why broadband costs are a particular concern in Scotland

Broadband has become essential for Scottish households, from working at home and accessing public services to online shopping, entertainment and keeping in touch with relatives.

However, access and choice can vary considerably depending on where people live.

According to Ofcom's latest Connected Nations figures, 71% of residential premises in Scotland had access to full-fibre broadband as of July 2025, following a significant expansion of the network.

But coverage remains uneven, particularly across remote and rural communities where the choice of competing providers may be more limited.

This makes it especially important for consumers to understand what they are paying and whether alternative packages are available at their address.

What has Ofcom done about broadband price increases?

The UK communications regulator introduced new rules in January 2025 banning inflation-linked and percentage-based price increases in new broadband contracts.

Previously, some providers linked annual increases to inflation, leaving customers uncertain about exactly how much their bills would rise.

Under the revised rules, any scheduled increases must be explained clearly in pounds and pence before customers sign up.

However, the regulations did not ban mid-contract increases completely, and some providers can still apply predetermined annual rises.

Additional voluntary consumer protections introduced in 2026 are intended to reduce unexpected price changes, but Broadband Genie believes that only an outright prohibition will provide sufficient protection.

Alex Tofts, strategist at Broadband Genie, said: "Bill payers have suffered from these unfair price hikes for long enough. Mid-contract price rises cause nothing but confusion, stress, and extra financial pressure during a cost of living crisis.

"If Ofcom wants to bring true transparency to telecom billing, the solution is obvious. Ban these absurd mid-contract price rises for good."

Can Scottish customers escape the next broadband price rise?

Anyone concerned about an increase should start by checking their existing agreement to establish when their contract ends and whether an annual price rise is included.

Customers who have completed their minimum contract period can generally move to another provider without facing early termination charges.

For those still in contract, the situation depends on the terms originally agreed. A scheduled increase clearly disclosed at sign-up does not normally provide an automatic right to leave without a penalty.

However, customers may have the right to cancel without charges if a provider introduces an increase that was not specified in the original agreement or goes beyond the agreed amount.

Consumers should also consider the total cost of a new broadband contract, rather than looking only at introductory discounts.

How to support the campaign against broadband price hikes

Broadband Genie wants the Government and Ofcom to go further by ending mid-contract broadband price increases completely.

It argues that customers should be able to sign up for a broadband package knowing precisely what they will pay throughout their agreement, without facing another annual increase.

Scottish consumers who agree can sign the petition calling for a complete ban on mid-contract broadband price rises.

With the next round of increases approaching in spring 2027, households have an opportunity to review their existing arrangements and understand what their broadband will cost before any new charges take effect.