Published: 01/03/2022
These days, most broadband providers raise prices annually, with BT, EE, Plusnet, Vodaphone and Virgin looking at increases this Spring . If your costs are going up, or if you're on a promotional deal that's ending, switching isn't the only way to pay less for your broadband and phone contract costs.
If you’re out of contract, it’s worth checking out – It’s not only an opportunity to save some money, it can also mean a faster connection.
If you’re still on standard broadband (also known as ADSL), switching is a chance to upgrade to fibre. Fibre broadband can cost the same as standard broadband – or even less – and it’s more reliable.
Switching to a cheaper provider could save you as much as £143 a year, according to research by Which? Find out more here: compare broadband deals with Which? Switch
On average UK consumers use just 4.5GB per month, so it’s worth keeping an eye on your data usage to make sure you’re on the best mobile phone deal. Providers are commonly offering, increasingly higher, or even unlimited, data allowances.
However, deals with high data allowances aren’t always more expensive so this might not be a huge factor in your choice of provider. Which? Switch Mobile lets you set a minimum data allowance and then compare deals by price – you can use it to check whether the amount you’re currently paying is reasonable, and find a new provider if you want to make a switch.
You might feel reluctant to switch away just to get a better deal if you’re happy with your current provider. Negotiating with your provider means you can keep your current deal and hopefully pay less.
Haggling may seem more daunting than it really is. It isn’t like randomly asking for a discount in a high street shop or supermarket– broadband providers both invite and expect customers to do it. If you’re not up for a long call, most providers offer to do it via email or live chat instead.
The bottom line is, call up and ask for a better deal. Say you've seen cheaper deals elsewhere and you're paying too much. They ask where, but they know what the competition are offering! Failing that, tell them you're leaving. You'll probably get put through to their retention deals departments.
Right now, it may take longer to get through to companies, as many say call centres and customer service staff are much busier than usual as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Be prepared to wait and do it before your contract ends!
Which? offer some good advice:
Haggling can work, but it's just one part of your strategy to get the best deal. Often 'new customer' offers you can get from alternative providers are simply unbeatable. So, haggle, but always check the top deals out there too. See How to find cheap broadband deals .