Financial guru Martin Lewis has issued an urgent call to action for mobile phone users across the United Kingdom, urging them to send a simple, free text message that could potentially save them hundreds of pounds annually. The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com revealed that approximately 14 million people are currently paying inflated tariffs for packages that include handsets, despite their initial contracts having expired long ago.
The Simple Text Message That Could Save You Money
During a recent episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show, Lewis demonstrated how consumers can quickly check their contract status by texting the word 'INFO' to the number 85075 at no charge. This straightforward method provides immediate clarity on whether mobile users are still bound by contractual obligations or have become what Lewis describes as "free agents" in the telecommunications market.
Understanding Your Contract Status
Lewis explained that if the response indicates an 'Early Termination' or 'Cancellation Charge' of £0, this confirms the contract has officially ended. "You're a free agent - you can go and get the cheapest deals, you can cut your costs," he emphasized. However, he noted an important exception: those on joint family mobile packages or multiple-phone contracts won't receive a response through this method.
For individuals uncertain about their contract timeline, Lewis offered a useful guideline: "If you haven't switched provider in two years, you're probably out of contract." He also mentioned that Three customers would need to provide their date of birth when using the text service for verification purposes.
The Dramatic Shift in Mobile Pricing
The money saving expert highlighted a significant market disparity that has developed in recent years. "Prices have been going up and up. At the same time the cost of new customer SIM deals have been plummeting," Lewis stated. He provided a concrete example to illustrate this trend: "For 50gb two years ago you'd have been paying £9. Now you can get it as cheap as about £3 a month."
Referring to visual data presented during his television segment, Lewis pointed out: "Look at that dispersal - you've got existing customers going up and up and up and new customers going down and down and down." This widening gap between what loyal customers pay versus what new subscribers receive has created what he describes as a "shed load" of potential savings for those willing to switch providers.
A Three-Step Approach to Mobile Savings
Lewis outlined a clear methodology for mobile customers seeking to reduce their monthly expenses:
- Check Your Contract Status: Text 'INFO' to 85075 to determine if you're among the 14 million out-of-contract users.
- Conduct a SIM Comparison: Visit comparison websites rather than approaching mobile companies directly, as the best deals are typically not available through standard customer service channels.
- Switch Providers Efficiently: If changing networks while keeping your current number, text 'PAC' to 85075 to obtain a Porting Authorisation Code, then provide this to your new provider.
Navigating Network Concerns and Finding the Best Deals
Addressing common consumer reservations about switching providers, Lewis acknowledged: "Now I know what you're probably saying to me. You're going, 'Yeah, but I like my signal. I don't want to change'." He provided crucial context about the UK's mobile infrastructure: "Well, if you do remember, there are only four mobile networks in the UK. Every other one is piggybacking off one of those four."
This insight allows consumers to search specifically for deals operating on their preferred network's signal. Lewis recommended his website's comparison tool, stating: "So you want to do a comparison that says, What's the cheapest deal on the signal that I currently have? And if you go to the cheap mobile finder on my site, money saving expert.com, you can do that type of search and see what's out there, see what's available."
He cautioned that many of the most competitive offers have limited availability windows: "Most of the deals are not available direct from the mobile phone companies because then they might have to give them to existing customers and are only on comparison sites and they tend to be short-lived."
The Core Message for Mobile Users
Lewis concluded with his fundamental recommendation: "My main message. Do that text, see if you're out of contract and check before prices go up. Whether you can save a shed load by switching hope that helps." His advice represents a practical approach to navigating what he characterizes as a telecommunications market where loyal customers often pay premium prices while new subscribers enjoy substantially better deals.
The financial expert's guidance comes at a time when household budgets face increasing pressure from rising living costs, making such potential savings particularly valuable for millions of UK mobile users who may be unaware they're paying more than necessary for their telecommunications services.
