Broadband Membership Options email

[MrsMac]

An email has come in saying my broadband membership is now out of contract and asking me to choose between the two options:

Do nothing, continue to pay £22.99 a month, no contract, keeps rolling, includes discounts of £17.01 a month. First discount will expire 24/01/2024.

OR

Pay £31 a month, 12 month contract, includes discount of This includes a discount of £9.00 a month. Discount will expire 12 months from the date you redeem.

I can't see what the catch is here and why I'd choose to pay £8/month more. Is it because with no contract NOW can increase the price at any point and without warning? Or is it something to do with the fact that for option 1, the "first" discount will expire on 24/1 (when do the others expire?).

I know there is something I'm not picking up on here, but not sure what, or what option I should go for. Any help out there?

[gavs82008]

@MrsMac 

Do you have any phone numbers on that email? As I would do neither and call the team, surely something better out there for you. 

[MrsMac]

Yes, there is a phone number. I guess I just want to be as forearmed as possible before I call them so that I know what I'm talking about and in a better position to negotiate. That price includes Fab Fibre and Anytime Calls, btw.

[gavs82008]

@MrsMac 

Not being a customer for broadband with NOW all I would say is this is what new customers are being presented with for deals. 

https://www.nowtv.com/broadband

So the big question is, do you need the anytime calls or can you get away without it and use mobiles only for making calls?

[RoyB]

@MrsMac 

I think you have a handle on it. It’s that ‘first discount’, as you suspected.

Your next payment will be £22.99, and the one after that will be increased by an unspecified amount, which we happen to know is £8.01 - the ‘first discount’ which expires 24/01/24, leaving only the ‘second discount’ which we know is £9.00. Together, those two are the £17.01

And lo and behold, £22.99 + £8.01 is (tada!) £31.00

So, one seriously misleading email, though Now are staying one millimetre inside the line of actual deception.

I don’t know why Now pull this stunt. Me, I’d be ashamed to 😢