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Household Bills

Line rental costs up 38% since 2009

Joanna Faith
Written By:
Joanna Faith
Posted:
Updated:
14/04/2014

Telephone line rental costs have increased by 38 per cent over the past five years, putting more pressure on stretched household finances.

Analysis by broadbandchoices.co.uk. revealed providers are now charging an average of £15.35 a month versus £11.14 in 2009 – almost three times the rate of inflation for the same period.

This means households today pay an additional £50 a year just to get internet access or rent a telephone line.

Virgin Media customers have been hit the hardest, with the provider increasing the line rental costs by 45 per cent from £11.02 to £15.99 a month.

Meanwhile, a separate broadbandchoices.co.uk study found the unpopularity of line rental was growing, with 37 per cent of respondents saying they would get rid of their landline altogether if they could get broadband without it – up from 32 per cent in 2012.

Dominic Baliszewski, spokesperson for broadbandchoices.co.uk, said: “Most of us are accustomed to price rises, but line rental is really suffering from an image crisis at the moment. People are, quite rightly, questioning why they are being asked for more money time and time again with no real clarity over what they’re getting in return for the extra spend.”

 


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