Unbiased, the directory and lead generating service used by many Financial Planners and advisers, is to raise its charge for passing on consumer enquiries from 1 June - but has defended the increase as the first in four years.

From 1 June the enquiry price - the cost for passing on a user enquiry to an adviser - will rise from £30+VAT to £45+VAT but there will be no change to subscription plan prices. 

Unbiased Pro subscriptions plan prices range from free for a Basic Plan, which includes a basic profile listing and no inclusive enquiries, to the ‘Plus Plan’ which costs £59 per month and includes 1 free enquiry token per month. The Plus Plan allows a more extensive listing and analytics.

There is also a ‘Lite’ Plan at £29 a month which does not include a free reader enquiry.

Unbiased said the number of enquiries the site brings in had risen since it introduced the client-adviser matching service four years ago and it says it will use the extra revenue to invest further in the service.

Unbiased is one of a number of services offering consumers the chance to search an adviser directory to find a local one that matches their needs.

A spokesperson from Unbiased said: “Since we introduced our unique matching service four years ago, we’ve maintained the same price point by absorbing all the additional development and marketing costs ourselves.

“In that time, we have successfully increased the number of quality enquiries available through Unbiased. Our subscription package pricing remains the same as when we launched it four years ago. We’re confident that the Unbiased service represents far stronger value than it did four years ago.”

The spokesperson added: “Raising our enquiry price for the first time in four years allows us to invest further in our marketing to bring even more quality enquiries to our customers. We’re working constantly to inform and educate consumers on the value of advice and so steer more people towards advice.“