Notice Information
Notice Title
In-Contract Price Rises Qualitative Research Project
Notice Description
Many communications providers include annual inflation-linked in-contract price rise terms in their consumer contracts, typically in the formula of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) or Retail Prices Index (RPI) plus X% (where X is almost universally 3.9%). This, in combination with fast-rising rates of inflation, has led to large and likely unexpected price rises in 2022 and 2023 for many fixed broadband and mobile customers and for some pay TV customers. Price rises usually take effect in March or April each year and apply to all customers on contracts with relevant price rise terms, regardless of when they signed up to the contract. Providers can offer contracts with a commitment period of up to 24 months, which means that customers on contracts with price rise terms could face up to two annual price rises while they are in-contract. Ofcom want to assess the impact of these price rise terms on consumers, including on their ability to understand and choose the right deals for them and, how this in turn may impact the effective functioning of markets more generally. Our preliminary research suggests that consumer awareness and understanding of in-contract price rises, and inflation generally, is low. We would like to conduct a piece of qualitative work to explore levels of current knowledge, consumer journeys and to test potential remedies. The main objective of this piece of research is to measure the extent to which consumers understand the possible impact of in-contract price rises on their monthly payment, the extent to which they engage with these terms during the purchasing process, and whether an inability to understand the possible magnitude of a price rise will lead to them not being able to make an informed decision. We will use the research findings, alongside other evidence, to assess whether consumer harm is occurring. We would also like to test potential remedies that could facilitate better consumer awareness and understanding of annual in-contract price rises and/or address other consumer harms identified.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-b5fd17-b2789ad8-770c-4146-bfbc-105d1a3a1e87
- Publication Source
- Contracts Finder
- Latest Notice
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/54b27f3b-b653-4bd4-8953-9f7df25733d9
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- Award Notice
- Procurement Type
- Framework
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Selective
- Procurement Method Details
- Call-off from a framework agreement
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- SME
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
-
- CPV Codes
79310000 - Market research services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £56,754 Under £100K
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- £56,754 Under £100K
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 3 Jul 20232 years ago
- Submission Deadline
- 6 Jun 2023Expired
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 19 Jun 20232 years ago
- Contract Period
- 18 Jun 2023 - 29 Sep 2023 1-6 months
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Not Specified
- Awards Status
- Active
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- OFCOM
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- LONDON
- Postcode
- SE1 9HA
- Post Town
- South East London
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLI London
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLI4 Inner London - East
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
- Delivery Location
- TLI London
-
- Local Authority
- Southwark
- Electoral Ward
- Borough & Bankside
- Westminster Constituency
- Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/54b27f3b-b653-4bd4-8953-9f7df25733d9
3rd July 2023 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
Notice URLs
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.
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