Now is a good time to check your broadband and TV bill and make a change.
Millions of UK consumers are being hit by another massive round of price hikes today with firms including BT, EE, Virgin Media and Sky all whacking up the cost of their services. Some bills will rocket by over 8% from the start of this month meaning someone who was paying £60 in March will now face a paying £64.80.
It’s another blow for many people’s finances but there is a way to beat the increases. Those unhappy about paying more should shop around and see what deals are available.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) often have big discounts for new customers and you could find you save some mega money by moving.
“From 1 April, millions of people will face price hikes, including on broadband,” Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services explained. “Our research shows that switching providers if you’re out of contract can slash broadband, pay TV and mobile bills by up to £187.”
Along with checking out the main ISPs, it’s also a good idea to see if any so-called Altnets have arrived in your street. These smaller providers continue to shake up the market by offering very fast broadband without the usual price.
They have impressed so much, some were recently crowned winners in both the latest Broadband Genie and Which? surveys.
Of course, making the move to a new ISP can be a bit of a hassle but anyone watching the pennies could find it’s worth it in the long run.
Now is also a good time to ring your current ISP and politely tell them you are thinking of leaving. Deals can often be found by the so-called retention team if they think you are heading to a rival.
A final top tip is to check your broadband speeds and make sure they match your needs. The faster the downloads, the more expensive your monthly bill will be and not everyone requires blisteringly quick 500Mbps access. As a guide 100Mbps is ample for streaming Netflix, surfing the web, checking social media and sending emails. If you have a house full of connected devices, lots of people streaming, gaming and working from the kitchen table then 300Mbps or over might be needed to keep things running smoothly.
HERE ARE THE UPCOMING PRICE HIKES FOR SOME UK BROADBAND USERS
VIRGIN MEDIA: IF you use Virgin Media’s broadband access you’re soon going to face paying 8.8 percent more. This hike comes into effect from April.
BT: BT is hiking things from March 31 with its users facing increases of 7.9 percent. BT says that this will add around £3 to the average bill.
SKY: Sky is adding a little less to bills with its users facing an increase of 6.7 percent.
