9 bills going up from TODAY – and how to avoid the hikes

MILLIONS of households will see their bills go up from today as many providers - including energy and mobile phone firms - put up their prices.

April marks the start of a new tax year, so we've put together a round up of all of the price hikes you can expect and how you can save costs.

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1. Energy bill hikes of up to £117

The biggest price hike is on your energy bills as the Big Six providers - British Gas, EDF, Eon, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE - along with 30 smaller providers raise costs in line with energy regulator Ofgem's price cap.

It means firms can now charge £1,254 a year for their standard variable tariff.

As a result, 11million households are expected to see bills go up by £117 a year - even smaller firms such as Ovo are raising costs.

In general, suppliers blame the increase on rising wholesale costs - the price that energy companies pay for gas and electricity - but energy supplier Bulb actually announced a bill cut due to falling costs.

In fact, the Big Six energy firms have been accused of running a "cartel" after they ALL hiked prices to the same amount.

But households can dodge the hikes - and save hundreds of pounds - by switching to a fixed-rate deal.

Richard Neudegg, head of regulation at price comparison website uSwitch.com, said: "Nine in ten energy deals available today are cheaper than the new cap will be.

"Now is the time for energy customers to grab one of those cheap deals and find themselves up to £324 a year better off."

You can use a comparison website such as uSwitch.com or Energyhelpline.com to compare tariffs and find a cheaper deal.

MoneySavingExpert's Cheap Energy Club newsletter will send you an email reminder when a cheaper deal becomes available, while cashback sites such as TopCashback or Quidco may pay you to switch through them.

2. Mobile phone bills rise by up to £107 a year

Five of the biggest phone networks will put up their prices from today.

The worst hit are the 250,000 Virgin Mobile customers who will have to pay another £107 a year - or £8.87 a month - for their network coverage.

Millions of Vodafone customers will see an extra £17 a year added to bills while those on EE will have to pay another £11.30.

This isn't actually linked to inflation and are actually a shakeup by Virgin Mobile of "old tariffs".

Millions of Vodafone, O2 and Three customers will see bills go up by 2.5 per cent while those on EE will have to pay another 2.7 per cent.

Sadly, you can't leave your contract penalty free as a result of the increases unless you're already out of your contract's minimum term.

Mobile providers can get away with hikes as long as they notify customers at the time of purchase and in their contracts that bills can rise in line with inflation each year.

3. Water bills up by £16 a year

Water and sewage bills in England and Wales will also rise by up to four per cent from today which could see another £16 a year added to your bills.

Some bills will rise to £415 a year but it depends on the supplier and your individual circumstances.

A few regions will see bills drop by up to £9 - but the majority will see charges climb.

In Scotland, water bills are set the rise by up to 1.6 per cent.

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If you're struggling to pay your bill, discuss it with your water company as some offer freebies to help you reduce the amount of water you use, such as save-a-flush devices and special shower heads.

You may also be able to claim a rebate for any overpaid bills, or consider installing a meter to reduce your payments.

Also check whether you're on the right tariff or look for ways to cut back water usage, such as turning off the taps when brushing your teeth.

4. Council tax bills rise by up £78 a year

This year sees the second biggest increase to council tax bills in England seen in the past decade.

The levy on average Band D property - the most common band to be in - will go up by 4.7 per cent, from £1,671 in 2018-19 to £1,750 in 2019-20.

Households in Greater London will face the highest percentage increase in their total bills at 5.1 per cent, with the average Band D council tax in the capital set to rise by £72 to £1,477 in 2019-20.

But households in "shire" council areas will continue to have the highest average Band D council tax of £1,826 in 2019-20, up from £1,749 in 2018-19.

Unfortunately, you can't avoid these bills unless you're from a low income family or you claim benefits and are struggling to make the payments.

You may be entitled to a reduction or exemption but by how much depends on where you live and your circumstances.

You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working via the .

5. TV Licence fee up by £4 a year

The amount you pay to watch TV rises again this year to £154.50, up from £150.50 the year before.

The cost of an annual black and white TV licence will also go up from £50.50 a year to £52.

The BBC announced in 2014 that it would push up the cost of the annual fee - which funds BBC programming - for households to rise in line with inflation which was at 2.68 per cent in the 12 months to September 2018.

Since then, it's increased prices every year, meaning Brits now pay £9.50 more annually than they did three years ago.

6. Sky TV and broadband prices rise by £42 a year

Millions of Sky TV and broadband customers will see their bills go up £42 a year on average.

The telecoms giant says users will see an average increase of £3.50 a month (5.1 per cent) - or £42 a year.

It adds that prices will rise by £1 or £2 a month per product. Some of the key increases are as follows:

• Sky Cinema - will rise from £10 a month to £11 a month - a 10 per cent hike
• Sky Entertainment - will rise from £20 a month to £22 a month - a 10 per cent hike
• Broadband - will rise by £1 a month although the exact price you'll pay depends on your package
• Sky Fibre - will rise by £2 a month although the exact price you'll pay depends on your package
• Sky Q Multi-Screen will rise from £12 a month to £13 a month - an 8.3 per cent increase.
• Talk prices are also rising although the exact price you'll pay depends on your package

• Sky Talk Evening and Weekends will increase from £4 to £5 - a 25 per cent increase

• Sky Talk Anytime will increase from £8 to £10 - a 25 per cent increase

If you're not happy with the changes but don't want to leave Sky then you can try calling them up and haggling a better price.

The best way to do this is by finding a better deal than you're already on. Then call up Sky and say you'd like to leave.

Ask if there is any way it can cut your bills. If it refuses, ask if there are any free extras that it can throw in.

7. Car tax up by £65 a year

Drivers are set to face another car tax hike this year, with charges due to increase again next month.

Last year's Autumn Budget revealed VED rates would rise from April 1 to account for inflation.

And while the spike will cost the majority of drivers just £5 per year, some motorists could see as much as £65 added to their annual bill.

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Those with cars first registered between 1 March, 2001 and 1 March, 2017 will see a maximum £15 added to their standard annual rate, while new vehicles registered after April 1 this year could see their first year rate up to £65 higher than it would have been in 2018.

Any vehicles first registered before 1 March, 2001 are still taxed under an even earlier system, which applies charges based on engine capacity.

You don't have to pay vehicle tax if you're disabled and apply for an exemption or the car is used by organisations providing transport for disabled people.

Electric cars that cost less than £40,000 don't require you to pay tax either.

Historic cars made before January 1 1978 were made exempt from car tax April last year.

8. NHS prescriptions up by 20p

The price you pay for prescriptions from your GP now costs £9 in England, up from £8.80.

Last year, the Government hiked prescriptions from £8.60 to £8.80, and from today prices will have increases by a further 20p.

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It might not sound like much on it's own but charities warn it will hit the pockets of people with long term illnesses who regularly have to pay for multiple prescriptions.

Hundreds of thousands of patients may save money if they get a "prescription season ticket", which covers the cost of all prescriptions for a certain period.

It'll be frozen at £29.10 for three months of £104 for a year.

Prescriptions have been free in Northern Ireland since 2010, free in Scotland since 2011, and free in Wales since 2007.

9. Dental appointments up by £1.10