On this page
What we check
- Your monthly price against your contract, including any agreed price rise
- Your contract end date, and whether you are now out of contract
- Phone repayments still on your bill after the phone is paid off
- Extra charges: roaming, calls to premium-rate numbers, third-party services, data over your allowance
- Whether a SIM-only deal would cost less for the way you actually use your phone
Lines on a mobile bill, and what to ask
| Line on your bill | What to ask yourself |
|---|---|
| Monthly plan charge | Does it match the price and any rise in your contract? |
| Handset or device payment | Is the phone paid off? If so, why is the charge still there? |
| Out-of-bundle usage | Did you go over your minutes, texts or data? |
| Roaming | Did you use your phone abroad, or near a border or at sea? |
| Premium or phone-paid services | Did you knowingly buy it? Who is the company? |
| One-off fees | Is there a clear reason, such as an upgrade or late payment? |
Price rises and your contract
Since 17 January 2025, providers cannot put inflation-linked or percentage-based price rises into new contracts. Any rise written into a new contract must be shown in pounds and pence before you sign (Ofcom). Older contracts may still have inflation-linked rises. If your provider raises the price by more than your contract says, or raises it when your contract sets no amount, it must tell you at least 30 days before. You then have 30 days to leave without an exit fee.
Bill limits
If you started, renewed or switched a contract from 1 October 2018, you can ask for a bill limit. It covers calls, texts and data. Your provider must warn you when you are likely to reach it, and cannot charge beyond it unless you agree (Ofcom). It does not cover fees such as late payment charges.
If your bill looks wrong
- Check the bill against your contract and your usage in your provider's app.
- Contact your provider and ask it to correct the bill. Put it in writing and keep a copy.
- If it is not fixed after 6 weeks, or you get a deadlock letter, you can take it to a free Ofcom-approved ADR scheme (Ofcom).
You can also call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 (Citizens Advice).
Frequently asked questions
Which networks do you check?
Bills from any UK network or provider. Deals we show come only from our partner providers, so a better deal may exist elsewhere.
I am in contract. Is it still worth checking?
Yes. Extra charges, a rise that does not match your contract, or a phone payment that should have stopped can all happen mid-contract.
Can my provider put the price up in the middle of my contract?
Only if your contract allows it. Since 17 January 2025, a rise in a new contract must be set out in pounds and pence before you sign. If a rise is not in your contract, you must get at least 30 days' notice and can leave without an exit fee.
What if I used more data than my plan includes?
Ask for a bill limit if you do not have one. If you set one and were charged above it without agreeing, ask your provider to reduce the bill to the limit.
Is the bill check free?
Yes. You never pay us. If you switch through us, the provider pays us commission. See how we make money.