What are spend controls?

Spend controls are a feature that helps you manage costs and avoid unexpected charges on your bill. By setting limits on calls, texts, and data, you can stay in control of your spending.

Spend controls work like a personal alert system: you choose a limit, and when you get close to or reach it, you’ll receive notifications.

Some spend control features are only available on Gold and Platinum services. Find out more about service tiers.

Types of spend caps

Ofcom total spend caps (all services)

Available on Essential, Gold, and Platinum services.

• Set a total limit for additional charges.
• Covers all chargeable usage: calls, texts, and data at home or while roaming.
• Once the cap is reached, all chargeable usage is restricted.

Individual spend caps (Gold and Platinum only)

Available on Gold and Platinum services.

• Set separate limits for calls, texts, and data in the UK and while roaming.
• Up to six separate spend limits can be applied.
• Each limit helps you control additional usage beyond your tariff or bolt-ons.

⚠️ Spend controls do not cover maritime or satellite usage or premium rate services. Premium rate calls and texts can be managed separately in the Productivity Controls section of my.plan (Gold and Platinum only).

How to manage spend controls

You can manage spend controls directly in my.plan:

1. Log in to my.plan.
2. From the homepage, hover over the Controls tab.
3. Select Spend Controls from the dropdown menu.
4. Choose the type of spend control you want to set.
5. Click Edit to configure a new limit or update an existing one.

Blocking chargeable services (Gold and Platinum only)

In addition to spend controls, you can block access to certain services completely. This is part of Productivity Controls.

• Block specific services such as premium rate calls, international calls, or mobile data.
• Helps prevent unwanted costs by stopping chargeable services before they happen.

Notifications and restrictions

When you reach a spend limit:

• You’ll receive a notification.
• If your service is restricted due to hitting the limit, you’ll be alerted.

This ensures you always know when spend controls are active and what impact they have on your services.

Spend controls vs. productivity controls

• Spend controls: Limit how much you can spend on calls, texts, or data.
• Productivity controls: Block access to certain services altogether.

The two features work together to give you maximum control over your costs and service usage.