Price increase despite a discount: what happens to Promo, Family and bundle plans in 2026
A price increase does not automatically affect all customers in the same way. The decisive factor is how your discount is defined in the contract or on the bill. An advertised fixed price may protect you from an adjustment during the promotional period. A CHF 10 discount, on the other hand, usually remains unchanged while the base price increases. With percentage discounts, the discount amount often increases as well, but the final price can still rise.
For households with several Mobile plans, Internet, TV and bundle benefits, the bill is particularly difficult to assess. With Swisscom and Sunrise, discount types, terms and requirements may differ within the same customer account. The individual price-change notification, contract documents and next bill are therefore always decisive.
The crucial point: not all discounts are the same
The official price information from Swisscom and Sunrise shows price changes and their scope. Whether your personal price increases, however, depends on how the discount works.
Fixed-price promotion: the agreed promotional price counts
With a fixed-price promotion, a specific final price is often advertised, for example: “12 months for CHF 49.90 per month”. If this price is guaranteed and the promotion is still active, the promotional price generally remains valid until the end of the stated period.
Example:
- Previous regular price: CHF 69.90
- Promotional price for 12 months: CHF 49.90
- New regular price from the announced date: CHF 72.90
- Your price during the ongoing fixed-price promotion: CHF 49.90
Once the promotion ends, the plan will generally revert to the regular price then in effect. In this example, that would be CHF 72.90 instead of CHF 69.90. So do not check only your current monthly bill; also check when the promotion ends.
Discount in francs: the reduction stays the same, the net price rises
An absolute discount in CHF does not protect you from an increase in the base price. The reduction remains unchanged unless the terms state otherwise.
Example:
| Item | Before the price change | After the price change |
|---|---|---|
| Internet base price | CHF 79.90 | CHF 82.90 |
| Personal discount | - CHF 10.00 | - CHF 10.00 |
| Effective monthly price | CHF 69.90 | CHF 72.90 |
The CHF 3 increase is therefore passed on to you in full. This is particularly relevant for loyalty, win-back or bundle discounts with a fixed amount in francs.
Percentage discount: the discount grows, but usually not enough
A percentage discount is calculated on the currently valid base price. The discount amount therefore increases when the price rises.
Example with a 20% discount:
| Item | Before the price change | After the price change |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile plan base price | CHF 60.00 | CHF 65.00 |
| 20% discount | - CHF 12.00 | - CHF 13.00 |
| Effective monthly price | CHF 48.00 | CHF 52.00 |
Although the discount increases by CHF 1, you pay CHF 4 more. The percentage benefit remains the same, but your final price does not.
Family and multi-product discounts: calculate particularly carefully
With Family offers or several products on the same bill, there is often a main discount plus additional benefits for each connection. A price change may affect only individual products. The new total therefore cannot be reliably determined from a single line item.
Example: Mobile Family discount with two plans
Suppose a household has two Mobile plans. The second plan receives a CHF 15 Family discount.
- Plan 1 increases from CHF 59.90 to CHF 62.90
- Plan 2 increases from CHF 49.90 to CHF 52.90
- The Family discount on plan 2 remains CHF 15
The bill changes as follows:
| Item | Previous | New |
|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | CHF 59.90 | CHF 62.90 |
| Plan 2 before discount | CHF 49.90 | CHF 52.90 |
| Family discount | - CHF 15.00 | - CHF 15.00 |
| Total | CHF 94.80 | CHF 100.80 |
The household pays CHF 6 more per month. The Family benefit remains in place, but it does not offset the increase.
Example: Internet and Mobile bundle
A bundle discount may depend on a requirement, such as a specific Internet plan or several products under the same customer number. If only the Internet plan increases, the Mobile discount may remain unchanged.
Example:
- Internet increases from CHF 80 to CHF 84
- Mobile still costs CHF 50
- Bundle discount on Mobile: CHF 10
- Previous total price: CHF 120
- New total price: CHF 124
Important: if you later switch your Internet plan to an ineligible category or cancel it, the bundle benefit may disappear completely. A seemingly inexpensive switch can then become considerably more expensive. Always compare the total household price for Internet, Mobile and bundle offers.
How to check your next bill
After an announced adjustment, do not check only the total line. This checklist helps you identify errors and unexpected changes:
- Compare the base price, discount and total amount with the previous month’s bill.
- Check whether your discount is shown in CHF or as a percentage.
- Look for the promotion end date and a note about the future standard price.
- With Family plans, check each individual plan, not just the combined total.
- Check that the Family, multi-product or bundle requirements are still met.
- Watch for prorated amounts if the price change takes effect in the middle of the billing month.
- Read the provider’s notification regarding the cancellation period and any possible extraordinary right to cancel.
Cancel or switch: compare the net price first
A price increase does not automatically mean that switching will be cheaper. First calculate your actual monthly amount, including all discounts, device payments, activation fees and any remaining minimum terms. Also check whether a promotion is about to end: switching may then be more attractive than waiting for the higher standard price.
If you want to cancel, comply with the deadline stated in the contract and in the price-change notification. In the event of a unilateral contract change, special cancellation rights may apply; whether they do depends on the specific notification and your contractual terms. You can find an initial market overview in the subscription comparison.
The most important rule remains: it is not the advertised discount that counts, but the actual final price on your next bill and the one after that.
