DREADED broadband bill rises are on the way for millions of Brits – but there are ways you might be able to avoid the sting on your bank balance.
Many major providers are now setting annual price rises of up to £4 a month, which means customers will end up paying an extra £48 a year.
But if you’re savvy, you might be able to get out of any increases – even if you’re locked into a contract.
Bill rises are coming to big names like Virgin Media, BT, and Sky from the end of this month into April.
Here’s what you can do to save.
Check if you’re out of contract
The first thing to do is check if you’re out of contract.
It’s easy to miss this after years of service with the same provider.
Being out of contract offers you ultimate flexibility to switch now before any rises are introduced soon.
You might be afraid of getting worse broadband than you have currently – be sure to use a comparison website like USwitch to see what’s available in your area.
Remember, a fast speed doesn’t necessarily mean a better service.
And some households, such as couples, don’t need the biggest, fastest package there is.
To protect yourself from more rises, you should look for special price freeze offers.
“The good news is, if you’re currently out of contract you can beat the April price hikes by switching to a new deal now,” Max Beckett, Uswitch broadband, tells The Sun.
“Providers such as Virgin Media, Hyperoptic, and Community Fibre are currently offering ‘price freezes’ for new customers, which means no price increases until 2027.”
He also recommends going for lesser-known regional providers.
Trooli and YouFibre, for example, have committed to fixed prices for your whole contract.
GIFFGAFF DEAL LOCKED FOR TWO YEARS
Giffgaff launched a brand new 24 month broadband contract this week.
And bosses have promised to fix the price until the end of their term in 2028, so there will be no mid-contract nasty surprises.
It starts at £25 for 200Mbps, with £28 for 500Mbps and £32 for 900Mbps.
Image credit: Getty
Still in contract? Get out of it free
In a bid to win over new customers among the current mid-contract rise frenzy, some providers are offering to pay towards your exit fee.
Leaving mid-contract requires you to pay up for the rest of your contract period.
Depending on who you go for and how much longer you have left, this could be the ultimate solution to your problems.
Providers like Virgin Media, EE and Three are currently offering up to £300 in bill credit to pay off your current provider’s exit fees, making it much easier to escape a bad deal early
The likes of Virgin Media, EE, and Three are offering up to £300 towards the exit fee with your current provider.
“Even if you are still locked in, check for ‘switching credit’ loopholes,” Beckett explained.
“Providers like Virgin Media, EE and Three are currently offering up to £300 in bill credit to pay off your current provider’s exit fees, making it much easier to escape a bad deal early.”
If you absolutely prefer to stay with your existing provider, you could try the good old-fashioned way – calling the retention team.
“A quick call to their retention team to haggle for a better rate can help ease the sting of the April increase,” Beckett continued.
“However, with out-of-contract costs sometimes more than double the price of introductory deals, shopping around remains the most effective way for households to save an average of £329 a year.”
ARE YOU OVERPAYING FOR FASTER BROADBAND?
The big broadband speeds might get all the attention in adverts – but they’re pricier and you don’t necessarily need them.
In most cases, the fewer people in your household the less speed you’ll need.
It also depends on how many devices you’re using and how internet-hungry they are.
Things like online video gaming and VR headsets are particular hogs for speedy broadband.
If you’re just a couple who browses the internet and watches HD videos on a limited number of devices, you can actually get by with as little as 30 to 60 Mbps.
For three to four people, with 4K video streaming, online gaming and video calls, you should aim for at least 100 to 300 Mbps.
It’s only really households with five or more, using lots of devices simultaneously that you need bigger 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps packages.
If you’re having problems with your broadband, it’s more likely an issue with your router’s placement than the speed itself.
Image credit: Getty / The Sun
