One-week warning over ‘ridiculous’ bill hike that has left TV fans furious

TELLY fans are furious over a “ridiculous” bill increase set to happen in a week’s time.

Disney+ will increase the price of its premium subscription starting March 24.

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The streaming giant made changes to its subscription plans late last year, increasing premium subscriptions from £7.99 to 10.99 per month.

It also introduced a three-tier streaming service that allows users to choose from new rates.

The new system is as follows:

• Disney+ standard (with ads) – £4.99 per month
• Disney+ standard (ad-free) – £7.99 per month (or £79.90 per year)
• Disney+ premium – £10.99 per month (or £109.90 per year)

The two standard levels allow customers to stream content at up to 1080p resolution.

Most existing customers automatically switched to the Disney+ premium from November last year.

These companies really take the p***

Social media user

However, customers who have an annual subscription will see their bill increase this month when the annual renewal is due.

Annual subscribers who have been notified of the price increase are not happy with the change and have expressed their frustration on social media.

One person said: “I can’t believe Disney+ has gone up by £30 for an annual subscription, these companies are really making the effort.”

Another added: “The price increases are ridiculous considering how much the fat cats have in their bank accounts.”

A third person said: “As always there is no reason for them to increase the price, there is no need to.”

How much have Disney+ subscription prices increased?

When the streaming service first launched in 2020, it cost just £5.99 per month or £59.99 per year.

This gives you access to all TV shows and movies on the streaming service without ads.

However, it didn’t take long for the price to rise, as in February 2021 the price rose to £7.99 per month, or £79.90 per year.

The price increase also came with the addition of STAR shows and movies on Disney+ programming.

But the recent increase announced in November last year has caused the most controversy.

This price increase will see some annual bills reach over £100 per year.

How to keep your Disney+ bill low

There are ways you can keep your Disney+ costs low if you enjoy the channel.

Choosing an annual subscription instead of a monthly subscription will reduce your bill regardless of which subscription level you choose.

For example, if you choose the Disney+ standard annual subscription, you will pay €79.90 for the entire year, instead of €95.88 spread over 12 months.

Similarly, the new premium Disney+ subscription costs £131.88 per year if paid monthly, but the annual subscription is £20 cheaper at £109.90.

Choosing to pay annually also means that if subscription prices increase again, your price will be guaranteed until it is time to renew.

By choosing a cheaper plan you can keep costs low.

If you’re willing to watch ads, you can choose the cheapest Disney+ subscription, which costs just £4.99 per month.

Remember that you should always check which services you are using and cancel those you are not using.

If you pay monthly, you’re usually not locked in, so you can always change your services.

Can I get Disney+ cheaper or for free?

There are some hacks you can use to keep your subscription costs low or even get them completely free.

Tesco Clubcard holders can redeem their points for a subscription to Disney+.

You can double the value of your points when you spend them at certain stores, meaning you can exchange £12 worth of Clubcard points for a three-month subscription.

If you’re an O2 customer, you might be in luck too, as the mobile phone provider has also offered up to six months of subscription to Disney+ to new customers or those upgrading their plans.

Similarly, if you switch to a Club Lloyds bank account, you can choose one of five benefits on your account, including a 12-month subscription service to Disney+.

The accounts have a monthly fee that you can waive if you meet the appropriate requirements. So it’s worth checking if the account is right for you.

Many providers, such as phone companies, banks and energy companies, have offers, and some of these include subscription services, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for these.