4Com Price Increases: Why Trustpilot Says Rates Trebled

The Discount Cliff Explained

On uk.trustpilot.com/review/4com.co.uk, one phrase comes up again and again in 1-star reviews: "rates trebled". Customers describe signing a 4Com business telecoms contract at an attractive headline rate, paying that rate for 18 or 24 months, and then seeing their bills jump — sometimes two or three times higher — once the introductory discount period ended.

This article explains exactly how that mechanism works, what the "forced renewal" trap looks like, and what you should actually be paying on the honest UK business telecoms market.

We are Compare The Networks — an independent, OFCOM-regulated business telecoms comparison service since 2008. We are not affiliated with 4Com, Hihi or Campfire. Everything below cites public reviews on Trustpilot — we report what reviewers publicly state.

How the 4Com Discount Model Works (Per Trustpilot Reviewers)

Based on what customers publicly describe on Trustpilot, the typical 4Com pricing structure follows this pattern:

Months 1 to 18 (or 24): The Honeymoon

A discounted rate applies — often significantly cheaper than comparable direct-network or direct-VoIP pricing. The sales pitch at this stage focuses on the monthly cost during the discount.

Months 19+ (or 25+): The Cliff

The discount expires. The "standard" rate kicks in. Several Trustpilot reviewers describe this increase as two to three times the discounted rate — hence the "rates trebled" phrase.

The "Solution" Offered

Reviewers describe retention agents calling to offer the original discounted rate back — on condition the customer signs a brand-new long-term agreement (often another 24-60 month service contract, and for equipment customers, another fresh 7-year finance agreement on new handsets).

This is what we call the forced renewal trap. To keep the rate you thought you were always paying, you have to reset the clock on your commitment.

The Maths: What a "Trebled" Rate Actually Costs Over the Term

Let us take a hypothetical that matches several Trustpilot narratives.

Headline pitch: £200/month for business telecoms on a 5-year service contract.

What customers describe happening:

Months 1-18 at £200/month = £3,600
Months 19-60 at £500/month (trebled) = £21,000
Total over 60 months: £24,600
Effective average: £410/month

The "£200/month" pitch was accurate for 30% of the term. For the remaining 70% of the term, the customer pays 2.5x that figure.

Add a separate Hihi equipment lease on top (typically 7 years, often £25 per handset per month as described on Trustpilot) and the true full-term cost for a 10-handset business climbs considerably further.

Read our companion 4Com 7-year contracts article and the 4Com finance agreement trap for the equipment side.

Why This Is Allowed: B2B Contract Law

Business-to-business contracts in the UK are exempt from the 14-day cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. They are also, largely, exempt from the consumer-protection rules on price transparency.

That does not mean misleading sales tactics are lawful. If a salesperson induced you to sign by telling you the monthly rate was £200 without clearly disclosing the post-discount increase, that is potentially misrepresentation. It is a legal basis for challenging the contract via CISAS (the independent telecoms adjudicator).

Read our 4Com complaints and CISAS guide for the full process. Key rule throughout: keep everything in writing, never accept a verbal resolution.

What Ofcom Has Said About Mid-Contract Increases

Ofcom banned CPI/RPI-linked price increases from January 2025. Mid-contract price increases now must be shown in £ and pence at the point of sale.

Importantly, Ofcom's rules specifically apply to consumer telecoms contracts. B2B contracts are technically exempt. In practice, most reputable UK networks (EE, Vodafone, O2, Three) have voluntarily extended the "£ and pence" rule to business contracts — typically a fixed £2.50 + VAT per month annual increase on mobile plans each April.

The "trebling" pattern described in 4Com Trustpilot reviews is different. It is not described as an annual inflation-linked increase — it is described as a fixed-date cliff when an introductory discount expires. That distinction matters when filing a complaint: you are not complaining about inflation indexation, you are complaining about how the discount structure was explained at the point of sale.

The Forced Renewal Trap

This is the loop Trustpilot reviewers describe most often.

Step 1: The Discount Expires

Month 19 arrives. The first post-discount bill lands. It is much higher than expected.

Step 2: The Customer Calls to Complain

The customer rings 4Com to ask what happened. The call is logged.

Step 3: The Retention Offer

A retention agent offers to "restore" the discounted rate — but only if the customer signs a new long-term service contract. For equipment, reviewers describe being offered the lower rate in exchange for signing a new 7-year finance agreement on a fresh Hihi handset.

Step 4: The Clock Resets

The customer signs. The discount returns. The 5-year (or 7-year) countdown restarts. The customer is now locked in until 2031 or 2033 to keep a rate they thought they had always had.

Step 5: Repeat

Another 18 to 24 months later, the discount expires again.

Our advice: do not sign anything in that retention call. Ask for the new proposal in writing. Compare it against the honest open market. See our how to leave 4Com guide.

What Trustpilot Reviewers Specifically Report

According to 1-star reviews on uk.trustpilot.com/review/4com.co.uk, recurring complaints about price increases include:

Rates described as "trebling" after the introductory discount period
"Opt-out" billing items — optional charges auto-added unless the customer actively refused, appearing on bills for months or years undetected
Hidden billing elements customers describe being charged for without noticing, in some cases for 3 years
Confusion about which company is billing (4Com? the finance company? Campfire?)
Retention offers conditional on a new 7-year agreement
Threats about credit or "blacklisting" if customers try to leave after the price increase

We report what reviewers publicly state. We are not making direct corporate accusations. Read the reviews yourself at uk.trustpilot.com/review/4com.co.uk.

For more on the sales pitch itself, see our 4Com sales tactics article.

What an Honest UK Business Telecoms Price Looks Like

Here is what transparent 2026 UK business telecoms pricing looks like for comparable services:

Business Mobile (Direct Networks — EE / Vodafone / O2 / Three)

SIM-only: £8 to £20 per line per month on a 24-month term
Handset plan with iPhone or Galaxy: £30 to £55 per line per month on a 36-month term
Annual increase: fixed £2.50 + VAT per month each April (£3.00 for some)

Business VoIP (Direct UK Providers)

Cloud-hosted VoIP: £10 to £20 per seat per month on a 24-month term
Desk handsets: outright from £200 to £450, or rented at £8 to £15 per desk per month
No separate 7-year finance agreement

Business Broadband

FTTP fibre: £35 to £70 per month on a 24-month term, static IP available
Ofcom-regulated annual increases only

What 4Com Reviewers Describe Paying

Trustpilot reviewers describe combined packages of £400 to £900+ per month for similar deliverables, with the majority of the cost coming post-discount and via the separate equipment lease.

Get a VoIP quote or get a mobile quote and we will show you honest comparison pricing across the UK market.

What to Do If You Are Already in This Position

If you are a 4Com customer whose bill has just jumped, here is the playbook.

1. Do Not Sign Anything in the Retention Call

Ask for everything in writing. Any legitimate retention offer will be emailed — if they refuse, that is itself a flag.

2. Read Your Original Agreement

Find where the discount expiry is documented. That is the clause you are working against. Request a copy of the sales call recording under GDPR if needed — 4Com should retain these.

3. Consider a Misselling Complaint

If the discount expiry was not clearly explained at the point of sale, you may have a misrepresentation case. Complain in writing to 4Com first, wait 8 weeks or get a deadlock letter, then escalate to CISAS. See our 4Com complaints and CISAS guide.

4. Price the Open Market

Get independent quotes so you know what you should be paying. VoIP quote or full quote.

5. Plan Your Exit

Understand the exit fee (service and finance agreement separately — see our 4Com early termination fee article) and time the switch properly. Our how to leave 4Com guide covers the full timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my 4Com bill treble after two years?

Trustpilot reviewers describe a common 4Com pricing structure where an introductory discount applies for the first 18 to 24 months of a multi-year contract. When the discount expires, the standard rate applies — reviewers commonly describe this as a two to three times increase. The mechanic is a fixed-date cliff, not an inflation-linked increase.

Can I challenge a 4Com price increase?

Potentially. If the discount expiry and the standard rate were not clearly explained at the point of sale, you may have a misrepresentation claim. Complain in writing to 4Com, wait 8 weeks or get a deadlock letter, then escalate to CISAS. Keep everything in writing and never accept verbal resolutions.

Does signing a new 4Com contract fix the price increase?

It restores the lower rate in exchange for resetting the clock on your commitment. Reviewers describe this as the forced renewal trap — you stay on the discounted rate but the end date moves years further out, and for equipment customers, a fresh 7-year finance agreement may be triggered. We would not recommend signing anything in the retention call — ask for everything in writing and compare the open market first.

What should UK business telecoms actually cost?

In 2026: business mobile is £8 to £20 per line SIM-only, business VoIP is £10 to £20 per seat, and business broadband FTTP is £35 to £70 per month, all on 24-month terms with transparent £2.50 + VAT annual increases. Combined Hihi-style handset plus VoIP packages should be in the low tens of pounds per seat, not the hundreds.

What does Ofcom say about mid-contract price increases?

From January 2025 Ofcom banned CPI/RPI-linked mid-contract price increases on consumer telecoms contracts and required mid-contract increases to be shown in £ and pence at the point of sale. B2B contracts are technically exempt but most reputable UK networks voluntarily apply the same rule (typically £2.50 + VAT per month each April).

Explore Your Options

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About this article. Claims reported here are attributed to public reviews on Trustpilot and similar platforms. They represent the opinions of the reviewers cited, not statements of fact by Compare The Networks. Brands named may dispute these claims. If you are a brand representative who believes any content requires correction, please contact us.

4Com Price Increases: Why Trustpilot Says Rates Trebled (2026)