Customers of medium sized ISP Zen Internet have started to receive letters (emails) that warn of an impending price rise, which is due to hit on 1st December 2014.

According to the letter, which was spotted by members of the Thinkbroadband Forum, the ISP says, Were writing to let you know that some of our prices will be changing from 1st December 2014, in line with the rest of the industry. Unfortunately the topic doesnt offer any further details, although a bit of digging on Zens website reveals how the line rental that comes bundled with Zens fibre broadband (FTTC) products will be going up in price from 15.98 to 16.99 per month.

The reference to being in line with the rest of the industry is a remark that reflects how the largest providers often increase their phone line rental, and sometimes broadband packages too, by around +1 extra per month at this time of the year (call charges can also be increased, albeit to varying different degrees).

Never the less the development is unusual for Zen Internet, which like a lot of other smaller providers has over the past few years actually had a tendency to reduce their prices and raise their broadband allowances. For example, Zens standalone Home Talk (Line Rental) service has been stuck at 11.22 inc. VAT per month for a long time, although confusingly for consumers this magically jumps to 15.98 when you take out an FTTC bundle.

On top of that Zen already have a reputation for being a fair bit more expensive than the big boys, yet this is often mitigated by their perceived advantage through delivery of a normally superior service quality and support. We cant help but wonder whether adopting the culture of the big boys might ultimately do more harm than good to Zens otherwise positive perception.

ISPreview.co.uk shot off a request for further information earlier this morning, although so far Zen has not furnished us with a response.

Originally posted here:
Customers of UK ISP Zen Internet Braced for Price Rises