MILLIONS of households could be wasting nearly hundreds of pounds a year on rip-off mobile phone deals.
Customers who stick with the same mobile provider after their contract has expired are splashing £335 a year over the odds.
But there's a simple way to check if you're paying more than you need to.
We spoke to Ru Bhikha, mobile expert Uswitch, who explained how easy it is to check if your contract is up with a five-digit code.
Ru said: "Switching mobile providers is a great way to ensure you’re getting the best deal available, as many providers offer the best incentives to new customers.
"Finding out if you are able to switch and how much this might cost is super simple, just text "INFO" to 85075.
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"It won't cost you anything to send the text message."
Customers who do this will then get a text back telling them if they are in or out of contract.
If you're in contract you'll be told how much you'll need to pay in exit fees to switch.
But if you're out of contract, you'll be able to switch for free without charge.
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Ru said: "Text-to-switch was introduced to help consumers easily take advantage of the best deals available, and is so quick you could send the text while you are in-store and get a response before you’re finished browsing.
"Once you have this information you can make a decision on whether a new deal is right for you."
If you are out of contract, Ru recommends switching straight away.
He said: "I'd recommend switching to a SIM-only contract if you own your phone outright.
"These typically offer better value for money, and you can save up to £335 per year by switching to a SIM-only deal."
And if you want to keep your number there's another five-digit code you can put to good use.
All you have to do is text "PAC" to 65075 for free and you will receive a PAC code.
Once you receive this, give it to your new provider and they will do the rest.
How can I find the best mobile deals?
Sites like MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch all help you customise your search based on price, allowances and provider.
This should make it easier to decide whether to renew your contract or move to another provider.
However, if you don't want to switch and are happy with the service you're getting under your current provider – haggle for a better deal.
You can still make significant savings by renewing your contract rather than rolling on to the tariff you're given after your deal.
If you need to speak to a company on the phone, be sure to catch them at the right time.
Make some time to negotiate with your provider in the morning.
This way, you have a better chance of being the first customer through on the phone, and the rep won't have worked tirelessly through previous calls which may have affected their stress levels.
It pays to be polite when getting through to someone on the phone, as representatives are less inclined to help rude or aggressive customers.
Knowing what other offers are on the market can help you to make a case for yourself to your provider.
If your provider won't haggle, you can always threaten to leave.
Companies don't want to lose customers and may come up with a last-minute offer to keep you.
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It's also worth investigating social tariffs. These deals have been created for people who are receiving certain benefits.
Both Smarty and Voxi offer social mobile tariffs costing between £10 and £12 a month for those on certain benefits including Universal Credit.
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