The bill millions of Brits most resent paying is the TV licence, according to new research. Tesco Mobile surveyed 2,000 Brits after households were hit with a wave of bill increases in what is being dubbed “Awful April”.
A staggering 49% of people said they hated paying their TV licence, followed by council tax (44%) and energy bills (42%). Water bills (35%) and rising rental costs (18%) also annoy us, so much so that a quarter (25%) of people say they hate paying bills.
Car tax (14%), credit card fees (13%), delivery fees (12%), speeding tickets (12%), congestion charges (11%), bus fares (11%) and National Insurance (11%) are also among the top resentments.
A staggering eight in ten (79%) of Brits say they suffer from “bill rage” on average of 14 times a month due to price rises. The increases most likely to make our blood boil include mid-contract mobile phone price increases (37%), broadband charges (34%), energy standing charges going up (34%), and a council tax increase.
A further two thirds (67%) are left feeling frustrated when they check their bank account after they’ve just been paid only to see that all their money has gone out already. But an astonishing 91% of Brits admit they can’t remember the last time they checked to see if they could save money by switching providers or tariffs.
As a result, seven in ten (69%) have ended up paying a higher bill without knowing it because they left it too late to change supplier. The study also found that over the last 12 months, the nation has been contacted ten separate times by suppliers telling them that their prices are going up.
This has left one in ten (12%) people at their wits end and 40% more worried about price hikes now than three years ago, according to the survey. One in four (23%) admit that looking at their bills feels like a tragedy.
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Emma Herridge, Marketing Director Tesco Mobile, said: “We know that rising costs are a big challenge for our customers, and whilst we can’t fix them all, our exclusive Clubcard Prices mean customers don’t need to worry about their bills increasing, as the monthly contract price is frozen throughout the minimum contract period.”
Ian H Watkins, who has teamed up with Tesco Mobile, said: “As a busy parent, juggling bills alongside everything else life throws at you can feel overwhelming. The constant worry about rising costs only adds to the stress.
“That’s why it’s such a relief to know that families like mine can stay connected without the fear of unexpected price hikes, thanks to Tesco Mobile’s Frozen Prices on Clubcard Price deals.”
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