When and how you're billed for your mobile plan

Your mobile service appears on the same monthly Lightning IP bill as your other services, but it's charged over its own billing period.

Your mobile billing period

Mobile services run on a fixed period from the 28th of one month to the 27th of the next. This period is set by our mobile network wholesaler, so it's the same for every mobile customer no matter when your service started. Your plan's data allowance also refreshes on the 28th. The period is slightly offset from the billing period for your other Lightning IP services, such as your internet.

What's charged in advance, and what's charged after

• Your monthly plan fee is charged in advance - each bill includes your plan fee for the coming mobile billing period.
• Usage is charged in arrears - anything outside your plan, such as automatic data top-ups, international calls and roaming travel packs, is charged on the bill after the period you used it in.

When your bill arrives

You'll receive a single bill for all your services, emailed on the 1st of each month.

What's on your bill

• Your monthly plan fee - for the upcoming billing period
• Add-ons - such as a companion eSIM plan for your smartwatch, also charged in advance
• Data top-ups - any automatic top-ups from the previous period, along with any manual top-ups you requested
• Other usage outside your plan - such as international calls or roaming travel packs from the previous period
• One-off charges - such as a SIM or eSIM charge when you first connect or replace a SIM

For current plan and add-on prices, see our SIM only plans and mobile broadband pages.

Your first bill

If your service starts part-way through a billing period, your first bill includes a part-period charge from your start date to the 27th, the plan fee for the next full period in advance, and any one-off charges. This can make your first bill look higher than your usual monthly price.

Cancelling part-way through a period

All our mobile plans are month-to-month, so you can cancel or move your number at any time. Because your plan fee is paid in advance, the full charge for the current period applies, with no partial refund for the remaining days. Any usage charges from that period appear on your final bill.