Dutch internet providers reject calls to end price inequality

Major Dutch internet providers Delta, KPN, Odido, and VodafoneZiggo are refusing calls from the Consumentenbond to treat all customers equally regarding pricing. While new customers are lured with high discounts and gifts, long-term customers face increasing costs due to annual inflation adjustments.

Data from the Consumentenbond indicates that customers who have held subscriptions with KPN, Odido, or VodafoneZiggo since 2020 are paying between 25% and 30% more than their initial rates. For example, a basic KPN subscription that cost €42.50 in early 2022 has risen to €51.86, whereas new customers could secure the same service for €35 per month during recent promotional periods.

Consumentenbond director Sandra Molenaar has called for political intervention, advocating for legislation that prohibits such price inequality. While the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) will mandate that providers annually inform customers about their contract status and available rates, the Consumentenbond argues this places too much responsibility on the consumer, particularly affecting vulnerable groups and the elderly.