Martin Lewis urges everyone with a mobile to send two texts ahead of controversial bills rise in April

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has urged people with mobile phones to send two texts before bills are expected to rise in April. Lewis hosted a special end-of-series edition of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on ITV1 on Tuesday night from Liverpool.

During the special, Lewis took aim at the slew of price hikes due to start in April that has made customers across the UK furious. Lewis discussed water bills, broadband and council tax as well as setting out a five step guide to beat mobile phone price hikes.

Martin told viewers on Tuesday that from April, phone bills will rise by up to 17% saying: "Even if you are mid-contract, which is something that should be stopped, even including some of the big ones. So what do you do about it? Five steps."

The advice comes after O2 and Virgin mobiles customers received a text in February from the company that read: “Hello. From April 2023 the monthly price of your calls, texts and data will rise by the 13.4% RPI rate of inflation plus 3.9% as set out in your terms.”

Customers also received an email which included a statement from Gareth Turpin, chief commercial officer of Virgin Media O2 said: “I wanted to write to you personally to let you know that the price of your monthly O2 mobile plan is changing. Each year, the official Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation figures are announced in February. We then adjust your mobile plan based on these figures, as set out in your O2 contract.

“The change means that from April 2023 the price of your monthly mobile plan (that’s the cost of your inclusive minutes, texts and data) will rise in line with the 13.4% Retail Price Index (RPI) rate of inflation, plus an additional 3.9% as set out in your terms.”

Money Saving Expert advice on saving on phone bills