Martin Lewis Urges 14 Million Phone Users to Send This 5-Digit Text Now

Martin Lewis has sounded the alarm for millions of Brits who may unknowingly be throwing away cash on their mobile phone bills. Speaking on The Martin Lewis Money Show, the financial expert warned that as many as 14 million people are overpaying on their contracts—some by hundreds of pounds a year—without even realizing it.

With mobile contract prices set to rise by around 6% this April—roughly £2 a month for many customers—regulator Ofcom has stepped in to ban mid-contract inflation-linked price hikes. But there’s a catch. These new protections only apply to contracts taken out from January 2024 onwards. If your contract started before then, you’re still on the hook for the increase, reported the Express.

However, millions of customers are actually “out of contract” without realizing it. Once you’ve paid off your handset, your monthly bill should drop significantly, as you’re only paying for your data, calls, and texts. But instead, many mobile providers continue charging the same amount every month, meaning customers are unknowingly overpaying.

“My big message is that 14 million of you out of contract are free to ditch, switch, or move,” Lewis told viewers. To check if you’re out of contract, Lewis shared a simple trick: Text INFO to 85075 (free of charge).

For customers on Three, iD Mobile, or Smarty, you may need to confirm your date of birth in a reply. This will tell you if you have any early termination or cancellation fees—if they’re £0, it means you’re out of contract and free to switch.

If you discover you’re out of contract, Lewis says switching to a SIM-only deal is the best way to save money. But don’t go directly to mobile networks, as they tend to charge higher prices. Instead, Lewis recommends using comparison websites, where the best deals, short-term promotions, and even cashback or vouchers can be found.

For example, he highlighted some of the best current SIM-only deals: Lebara: 10GB of data, unlimited UK calls and texts for £2-£5 per month. Smarty: Unlimited data, calls, and texts for £10-£15 per month. Lewis pointed out that mobile contract prices have skyrocketed over the years, even though SIM-only deals have actually gotten cheaper.

“Five years ago, a 50GB SIM was £13 a month. Now, the cheapest is £3 per month,” he said. “But if you’re on a contract, you’re hit with above-inflation price hikes every year. Switchers get the best deals.”

If you want to stick with the same network, Lewis advises haggling with your provider. However, if you just want to keep the same signal but get a cheaper deal, you can switch to a provider that “piggybacks” on the same network—such as Lebara using Vodafone’s signal or Smarty using Three’s signal.

For those worried about losing their number, the fix is simple: Text PAC to 65075 to receive a code to give to your new provider. This ensures you keep your existing number hassle-free.

One pensioner, Steve, shared his success story on the show after slashing his phone bill from £71 per month to just 65p per month for nine months, followed by £9.90 for the last three months—averaging just £2.97 per month over a year. His total savings? A staggering £816 in one year.

Lewis wrapped up by calling out mobile companies for continuing to charge customers full price after their contracts end, saying: “They should be banned from doing this—but they aren’t, which is why people end up paying far more than they need to.” For millions of Brits unknowingly overpaying, this warning could be the wake-up call to make a simple switch—and start saving hundreds a year.