A simple message could help people check if they’re overpaying and find offers from around £6 a month
People across the UK could be paying over the odds for their mobile phone bills each month, and a simple text message could start the process of switching to a more affordable deal. Carrying out these essential checks will help people avoid expensive exit charges.
Experts at Which? say that sending a free text can tell customers whether they’ll encounter any penalties for ditching their existing phone contract in favour of a cheaper option. Send the word ‘INFO’ for free via SMS (not WhatsApp) to 85075.
People will receive a text back outlining whether you’re out of contract or whether any early termination charges would apply if you leave your network. Some networks may send a follow-up text requesting your date of birth to verify your identity, reports the Mirror.
Adam Snook, a senior researcher and Which? writer, said: “This service is provided by telecoms regulator Ofcom and can help customers easily understand their situation. It doesn’t start a switching process or have any other impact on your mobile plan, so you are free to decide what to do next once you have this information.”
People can cancel without charge if they signed up for the phone contract and decide to pull out within 14 days. Another situation when early termination fees are waived is when the provider raises prices unexpectedly.
Once people know whether they are out of contract, Adam suggests the next step in working out whether they can secure a cheaper bill is to work out their data usage. Most contracts in 2026 offer ample call minutes and text messages, but pricing varies for internet data.
On an iPhone, go to Settings and select Mobile Data. This displays the data you’ve consumed in the current period, which begins when you first started using the handset.
For Android users, go to Settings, select Connections, then Data Usage or Data. Within the Data menu, you can view how much data you’ve consumed since a particular date.
Users can establish from this whether they’ve been overspending on data they rarely utilise. Once you’ve verified your contract status and the amount of data you require, you can begin searching for an affordable new SIM deal.
Which? expert Adam analysed a lot of different deals currently available, and claimed those on “low data usage” – under 10GB – could get offers for around £6 a month from providers like Sky and Asda. Moderate or high users were presented with options capped at £20. See the complete list of options and deals here, including TalkMobile and ID Mobile.
How to switch mobile networks
To switch and retain the same mobile number, text PAC to 65075. Your existing mobile provider should send you a text within one minute, and the PAC remains valid for 30 days.
The text will also contain crucial information, such as any fees for early termination (which won’t apply if you’re out of contract). Provide the PAC to your new provider, who must complete the switch within one working day.
To switch and change your number, text STAC to 75075 to receive your service termination authorisation code. After this, people should follow the same procedure as if they’d received a PAC.
