Cash-strapped households are paying over £100 more for broadband since April due to mid contract price hikes of up to 15% – but there are ways to pay less. Here’s how you can save money on your broadband bill
The cost of living continues to pile pressure on our finances. While paying your council tax, mortgage, energy bills and purchasing food are all essential, having broadband is also important if you need to be online for work, to apply for jobs, or to help the kids with homework.
You might think signing up for a fixed-term broadband deal means you’ll pay the same price each month, but this isn’t always the case. Many households have seen mid-contract hikes in the price of their broadband bills by as much as 15% according to Uswitch which can boost your bill by over £100 a year in some cases.
This is because most broadband contracts have clauses written in that allow providers to hike prices in line with inflation and these increases usually kick in from April each year.
Which? say: “Several major broadband firms, such as BT, EE, Plusnet, TalkTalk and Vodafone, raise prices every April in line with the consumer price index (CPI as published in January) plus an additional 3.9% or 3.7%.”
According to Uswitch, this means a household previously paying £50 a month for broadband now needs to find another £86.40 a year. And those previously paying £75 a month could now be paying an extra £10.80 a month, or £129.60 a year.
Exactly how much your bill has gone up will depend on your supplier, the broadband package you’re on, and when you signed your contract.
If you’re looking to slash your costs – here are seven ways to help keep your broadband bill low.
1. Switch broadband providers for a better price
While it’s often possible to switch broadband providers at any time, leaving your contract early may mean paying a penalty fee. This could mean paying the full cost of any remaining months left on your contract.
This is why most people usually only switch providers and deals when any minimum period on their contract ends. Most deals tend to last 12-24 months.
If you’re out of contract then rather than accepting price hikes it’s worth shopping around and switching to a new deal. At this stage, you usually only need to give your existing provider 30 days’ notice if you want to leave.
When it comes to switching providers, it’s worth knowing that most UK broadband services such as BT, Sky, Plusnet, EE, and TalkTalk use the Openreach network. Switching between these providers is relatively easy as they use some of the same equipment in the telephone exchange.
The main exception is Virgin Media which has its own network. This means switching to or from Virgin Media can be a bit more complex.
2. Compare broadband prices
It pays to shop around to find the best broadband deals. The best way to compare broadband prices is to use a price comparison site. These include:
You can use the postcode checker on these sites to find out what’s available at your address, as not all broadband deals are available across the UK.
You can use a price comparison site to compare broadband deals or ‘bundles’ which can include a phone line and TV package.
And you may be able to earn cashback with certain providers if you go through TopCashback or Quidco.
3. Haggle to lower your broadband price
If you’re happy with your broadband supplier, but not keen on the price, you may be able to haggle, either online or over the phone, in order to get a better deal.
A survey by Which? found nearly half (46%) of survey respondents had haggled with their existing provider when their contract ended. These people reported saving an average of £85 on broadband, and £128 on broadband and TV.
Haggling with your provider may mean you can pay a cheaper price for your current broadband package or even get a better deal for the same price. Some providers might offer extras like faster broadband speed, extra premium TV channels, or free landline phone calls.
Think about what you want, and crucially what you are most likely to actually use. Do you just want a cheaper price, or are you happy to pay the same in order to get faster speeds or additional TV channels?
Do your homework before you start haggling. A good tactic is to research prices from rival providers first before calling your own provider.
Ask for ‘disconnections’ or press the ‘thinking of leaving us’ option as this usually gets you through to the ‘retentions’ team.
They tend to be able to offer the biggest discounts when it comes to keeping you as a customer.
4. Check how long your broadband contract is
Broadband contracts typically last for 12, 18 or 24 months, and in general the longer you commit, the cheaper the monthly price.
Some providers also offer short-term 30-day rolling broadband contracts, which can be cancelled at short notice.
These are good for people who might be moving house soon or students who will go back to the family home for several months each summer.
Bear in mind that even if you sign a contract, the terms and conditions are likely to allow mid-contract rises in certain situations such as rising inflation.
5. Check your broadband speed
If you’re paying for ‘fast’ broadband, then make sure you are getting the speed you are promised and that it’s available in your area.
You can use free online tools to check your broadband speed. All you do is plug your postcode into sites like Broadband Genie or MoneySuperMarket. This gives you both the download and upload speed.
‘Superfast’ or fibre broadband is the fastest broadband, but also the most expensive. The fastest widely available broadband in the UK is offered by Virgin Media, with download speeds of over 1Gb with its Gig1 service.
ADSL broadband, which is delivered to your home via a normal phone line, is cheaper and more widely available. It’s slower than superfast broadband but generally fast enough for most households.
It’s worth thinking about the broadband speed you need so you don’t pay more than you need to. The cheapest broadband deals on the market have speeds of around 15 Mbps which is probably ok for checking emails and shopping online but not enough for streaming movies.
But if there are several people in your house and you all want to be online at the same time, uploading to social media or streaming movies, you need to look for a broadband deal with a download speed of at least 100 Mbps.
6. Could a broadband, TV and phone bundle be cheaper?
Many households bundle broadband along with landline calls and a TV package.
It can work out cheaper than buying all the services separately from different providers, but do check what you are getting.
If you’re switching your TV service alongside your broadband, you should look at the TV box included in the deal and which TV channels you’ll get. If you are including a landline phone service in your bundle, check whether you get any free calls included.
Bundles can work out cheaper for many households. However, if you’re not fussed about having a wide choice of TV channels, you might be better off buying a standalone Freeview box and keeping your broadband separate.
If you have inclusive calls on your mobile phone package, there is no need for a calls package on your landline too.
7. Are you eligible for a social broadband tariff?
If you’re on a low income or claiming certain benefits you might be eligible for help with broadband costs in the form of a social broadband tariff.
These deals are cheaper than standard broadband deals and according to Ofcom could save eligible customers around £250 a year.
Around four million people could be missing out on these discounted deals which are available from providers including BT, Vodafone, Sky and Virgin Media as well as smaller suppliers.
Prices typically start from around £12 a month, for 30 Mbps on a 30 day rolling plan, so you’re not tied into contracts. If you claim Universal Credit, but don’t have an internet connection, you may be able to claim six months of free internet with speeds of 38 Mbps through a deal with TalkTalk and your local Jobcentre. Speak to your local Jobcentre to find out more.
And while taking a trip to the local library or hooking up to free WiFi in shopping centres, train stations or cafes may not always be practical, it can mean a way to get online.
However you should be wary of doing anything like online banking this way.
