This post was written for Lived With
Love by Anthony
Hill, a writer at broadbandchoices.co.uk, where you can compare
mobile phones, TV packages and the cheapest broadband deals.
If
you’ve been with the same provider for a couple of years, you might
be paying more than you need to for broadband. Here are 10 tips to
help you find a better deal and save money on your broadband and home
phone package.
1.
Compare prices
Enter
your postcode into a comparison
website to see the cheapest broadband deals in your area compared
in a clear, impartial way. Use one accredited by Ofcom, the UK
communications watchdog, to be sure the information shown is accurate
and up to date.
2.
Switch to a cheaper provider
Once
you’ve done your homework and seen what’s actually on offer in
your area, the next step is to pick a broadband provider that’s
going to help you save money. However, it might not pay to go for the
cheapest package - consider value for money, not just the price.
3.
Bundle
The
four biggest providers in the UK - BT, Sky, Virgin Media and TalkTalk
- all offer TV as well as broadband, and it almost always works out
cheaper to get both from one provider instead of getting them
separately.
4.
Don’t pay for extras you don’t need
Extras
like Sky Movies can dramatically increase your monthly bill, but if
your broadband’s fast enough, you might find it’s cheaper to
stream films on NOW TV or Netflix instead. And there’s no point in
paying for anytime calls if you rarely use your landline to call
anyone.
5.
Find an unlimited package
If
there’s more than one or two people in your household using the
internet, and you regularly stream stuff on BBC iPlayer, download
music from iTunes or make video calls, unlimited usage is the way to
go - you could end up having to pay for extra usage otherwise.
6.
Check the cost of line rental
The
phone line required to get internet can often cost as much - if not
more - than the actual broadband package. So before signing up, check
the price of line rental.
7.
Save money by paying upfront
With
BT and TalkTalk you can save £20-£30 over the course of your
contract by paying 12 months’ line rental upfront. Not everyone can
afford to fork out £120-plus in one go, but if you can your
broadband will work out cheaper than it does if you pay line rental
monthly.
8.
Get broadband without a phone line
If
you mainly make calls from your mobile, your broadband may work out
cheaper if you ditch your home phone line. You can do this by
switching to Virgin Media, the only provider in the UK that offers
widely-available broadband that doesn’t require a landline.
9.
Look for special offers and rewards
Many
providers offer incentives to switch. By using a comparison site to
find the cheapest broadband you can see what you can get - like free
shopping vouchers or special discounts - and you might find exclusive
offers which aren’t even available from the providers themselves.
10.
Switch again
Broadband
deals change all the time, so make a note of when your contract’s
going to expire and have a look around as soon as you’re free to
switch again. It doesn’t usually pay to stay loyal, because
providers generally save their very best deals for attracting new
customers.
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