Virgin Media hikes bills by £48

AROUND five million Virgin Media customers will see their bills jump by an average of 4.5 pc from October.

Broadband, TV and landline deals will increase by an average of £48 a year, while broadband-only customers will pay an extra £36 a year. The telecoms giant will write to all those affected by the end of September. Customers can cancel contracts penalty-free within 30 days of receiving the letter or email.

The rises come after Virgin Media customers lost ten UKTV channels, since restored, following a row between the two firms over fees.

BT broadband customers are also set for a bill rise again from mid-September, less than 12 months after its last round of increases.