Uswitch responds to One Touch Switch new planned go live date

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com comments: 

“While we welcome the announcement of a new date, this is now the third target date that has been set for One Touch Switch to go live. 

“It’s crucial that the industry sticks to this new date without any further delays. 

“Consumers have already been let down twice while waiting for One Touch Switch, with the original deadline from Ofcom set for April 2023, and the second proposed date of 14 March 2024.

“With the timing of the missed target dates falling close to industry price rises - not once, but twice - the consumer impact of the delays is significant. 

“Broadband price rises have already cost consumers an extra £427 million* on their bills since 2023, with further rises of up to 8.8% expected from April - compounding the financial pain for customers - with many facing an aggregate increase of 23% to their broadband bill since March 2023.

“But without a simpler cross-network switching process, it’s harder for consumers to consider their choices and leave for better options when price rises hit. Our own data shows that broadband customers can save as much as £179 if they switch. 

“We need a genuinely competitive broadband marketplace, where a customer can easily consider their choices and benefit from the best offers - no matter who provides the network infrastructure.

“We hope this new target date of 12 September 2024 is an indication that the industry is coming together and prioritising their customers.”  

ENDS

*Customers with providers which had inflation based mid-contract price increases in April 2023 will have paid an average of £3.53 extra per month each after the April 2023 price increases (based on average advertised broadband prices from a selection of providers listed on Uswitch.com). There were around 11 million people who were on deals with inflation-based price increases (according to Ofcom’s Consultation: Prohibiting inflation-linked price rises), so after 11 months to (i.e. in March this year) they'd have paid an estimated £427,130,000 extra in total for all of the UK.

Chris Thomas

PR Contractor

v-chris.thomas@rvu.co.uk

About Uswitch 

Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles. 

More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.

Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings. 

Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.