Mobile bills warning over little-known increase that's going completely unnoticed

Less than half the nation (40 percent) were aware that the increase had happened.

By Rory Poulter, Personal Finance Reporter

Martin Lewis explains money saving broadband tip

One in four (24 percent) UK adults claim to have not noticed their bills increasing due to paying them on autopilot, new research has found.

Less than half the nation (40 percent) were aware that many mobile phone network providers had increased their prices in April according to a study from the mobile network giffgaff.

The study found more than one in ten (12 percent) haven’t checked their phone bill in the last 6 months.

It also found that less than half the nation (40 percent) were aware that many mobile phone network providers had increased their prices in April.

According to giffgaff three quarters (74 percent) of UK adults now experience inattentional blindness, a phenomenon that prevents people from seeing things right in front of their eyes due to their mind being distracted by other factors

Woman complaining and arguing about credit card debt during a phone call.

More than one in ten (12 percent) haven’t checked their phone bill in the last 6 months (Image: Getty)

The latest data from Uswitch showed that UK consumers face a collective £14.4 billion bill blow as broadband and mobile price rises kick in.

Giffgaff is one of the few mobile networks that hasn’t increased its prices mid-contract.

Currently on giffgaff the iPhone 15 is available for £37.46 per month based on a 24-month contract with 25GB of data whereas the exact same phone and data plan is available on other networks for £58.32. 

As a result of inattentional blindness, people continue to pay their bills without realising they could be missing out on a much more competitive deal elsewhere.

Overworked businessman in problems

UK consumers face a collective £14.4 billion bill blow (Image: Getty)

Ash Schofield, CEO of giffgaff, says:“As the network committed to giving its customers great deals on phones and mobile plans, we wanted to shine a light on just how many people are missing out on money saving opportunities that are right in front of their eyes.”

“We’re all leading increasingly busy lives, and as our findings show, it can often result in us failing to see things that are literally right under our noses.

"Through this research and unveiling our magic eye installation, we hope that we can help people start to see things more clearly and save some money by switching their phone contract to giffgaff.”

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