topic Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25% in Contracts & Billing

Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

sfutcher — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 17:40:24 GMT

Re: Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

sfutcher — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 17:47:24 GMT

I've just received a letter saying the same.

Previously the increases were fixed at Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate of inflation published in January, plus 3.9%.
There is no way that equates to a 25% increase - are EE just hoping that no-one will notice?

Re: Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

sfutcher — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 17:53:34 GMT

They'll definitely succeed with that strategy if they continue increasing their prices by 25% each year.

Re: Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

cassmtf — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 17:54:46 GMT

EE might say it's all OFCOM. £2.50 increase really doesn't make any sense for cheap SIM only plans. OFCOM might change this again in few years to inflation based or something but then it's too late for us. Simply no point in being a loyal customer for years. So just keep changing every 12 months if possible. I believe soon or later we can start seeing some reasonable 12 months plans from all providers.

Re: Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

XRaySpeX — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:18:57 GMT

@sfutcher : It's not calculated as a %age change. It's a fixed £2.50 pm for each SIM. See About annual price changes

Re: Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

cassmtf — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:28:02 GMT

He simply represents £2.50 in % terms as 25% increase in his case.

Re: Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

Profile closed — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:32:50 GMT

@cassmtf

Perhaps bcs in his case, it is.

My SIMs start at £7pm.

Thanks to the geniuses at Ofcom, I’m subsidising those who get a phone+airtime on a contract.

Outstanding.

Re: Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

bristolian — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 20:04:18 GMT

When mid-contract price rises were first allowed by Ofcom, they were percentage-based thus lower-priced plans had a lower increase. Then the inflation-crisis hit and price-rises breached double-figures, causing mass complaints.

There has been a general trend across the industry since then, towards "simplicity" that is best achieved by fixed-price increases, also achieving the price certainty over a 2year minimum-term that consumers generally want.

The negative-side of fixed-price increases is that they tend to be a higher-percentage on lower-priced plans, as in your case. Whatever the industry or individual operators do, is likely to cause upset somewhere.

Re: Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

garybs29 — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 20:33:08 GMT

@Profile closed given the price increase on a flex pay airtime is the same (device on 0% credit agreement) & a non flex pay handset increases £4 I don't think you're actually subsidising them!

Re: Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

Profile closed — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 08:30:59 GMT

@garybs29

So I’m not paying the same amount on my £6pm plan as someone paying £60pm for an all singing and dancing plan?

OK.

Re: Why are EE increasing the charges for Mobile SIMs by 25%

Profile closed — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 09:46:36 GMT

In fact, my cheapest SIM is £7pm. £2.50 on that is a 36% increase.

On ee.co.uk, their Unlimited Full Works SIM only is £36pm. £2.50 on that is a 7% increase.

Ofcom’s “solution” is regressive, impacting the cheaper plans to a greater extent, and if the aim is a total target increase in revenue, means that I’m subsidising those on the higher priced SIM only plans.

Outstanding work Ofcom.