Martin Lewis issues warning to all mobile phone users who pay more than £9 a month – can you cut costs?

MARTIN Lewis has issued a warning to mobile phone users who pay more than £9 a month.

In the latest MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) newsletter, Martin warned that people could be paying too much for their phones.

Martin said that if customers are paying more than £9 a month then they're likely being "stiffed".

That, topped with the recent phone hikes means people are paying way more than they need to.

The newsletter said: "Right now, you can get a 100GB Sim for £8.75/mth, enough data for almost everyone, and like most Sims it's unlimited UK calls and texts too.

"So if you're paying more, the question is, why?"

If you are paying more then there could be legitimate reasons such as being within contract still, roaming abroad, using lots of data or wanting to stick to one network.

But if you are out of contract, Martin suggested switching providers - 14million customers pay way more than they need to.

You can use cheap comparison tools to find the current best deal.

If your phone is locked to a network, then it must be unlocked for free by your current provider.

If you're worried about losing good signal, then don't worry as most providers piggyback off the main four networks - EE, O2, Three and Vodafone.

So if you've found a good deal, you can check which network it uses before signing up to it.

For example, right now customers could get a £7.85 Sim-only deal with TalkMobile which includes 20GB of data and unlimited calls and texts, according to MSE's mobile phone comparison tool.

If you're within contract and want to switch then do be aware of hefty fees.

Some providers will charge you to leave so do check what yours could be.

It's always worth asking your provider if they'll offer you something cheaper anyway so do give them a call even if you're in contract.

If not, make a note of the date your contract ends and tally up other deals that you could switch to.

How can I cut my mobile bill?

If you think your bills are too high and want to drive them down, the first thing to do is find out what the cheapest deal on the market is.

You can use this rate as a bargaining tool to get a better offer from your provider or as inspiration to switch providers.

Sites like MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch all help you customise your search based on price, speed and provider.

Haggle a cheaper deal

If you've found a cheaper rate with another provider get in contact with your provider to see if they can match the price.

If you're unsuccessful at haggling, then you could threaten to leave.

Your provider might then feel more inclined to keep you by offering you a better deal.

Attempting to haggle will always make it easier to decide whether to renew your contract or move to another provider.

Check if you can get a social tariff

If your household is on a low income it's also worth investigating social tariffs.

These broadband packages and discounts have been created for people who are receiving certain benefits.

They're often available to those on income support, Universal Credit, or disability allowance.

Around 4.2million households are eligible for these cheaper tariffs but only 55,000 are making use of them.

Voxi and SMARTY both offer these cheaper mobile phone contracts and prices start at £10 a month.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk