How to save money on your mobile, broadband and TV bills
Worried about your bills?
Here are our top ten tips on how you could save money on your mobile, broadband and TV bills.
Grab a cup and start reading to find out how you can start saving.
#1 Social tariffs for broadband
What are social tariffs?
Social tariffs are special low-cost broadband deals that some providers offer customers in receipt of benefits like Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
These are designed to help households that would otherwise struggle to afford broadband.
Who is eligible for social tariffs?
The exact requirements will depend from provider to provider; however, you’re likely to be eligible if you receive a state benefit.
These need to be means-tested benefits; however, a small number of providers such as Hyperoptic and KCOM offer social tariffs to households in receipt of non-means tested benefits.
Some providers offering social tariffs for means-tested benefits are BT Home Essentials 1 and 2, Country Connected, and Sky Broadband Basics.
For more information on social tariffs and a complete list of broadband providers that offer them, click here.
#2 Check your landline bills
When was the last time you used your home phone to make a call, or you received a call that wasn’t from some sort of salesperson?
More than likely, your broadband contract includes a landline and call package; however, if you rarely use the phone, you probably don’t even realise how much that is costing you each month.
Did you know that your landline bill could include things like evening and weekend, international or anytime calls? You could even be paying for add-ons like voicemail, anonymous caller rejection, and other services. All these could stack up to more than £20 every month!
If you aren’t using the additional services, now’s the time to drop them. There are plenty of free alternatives that you can use on your mobile as long as you have internet access. To find out more about the best chat apps, click here.
If you aren’t using the landline and don’t have a TV package or need one, it could be a good idea to compare and see what’s on the market in terms of broadband deals only.
Click here to compare the best broadband deals on the market.
#3 Be aware of broadband price increases during contract
Some providers such as Vodafone, BT, TalkTalk, EE, Plusnet, Shell Energy Broadband, and John Lewis Broadband have, over the last few years, started to bake price increases into consumer contracts.
What does that even mean?
Well, it means that providers have introduced annual price rises, which are in most cases based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation that gets published each January.
Unlike other price raises announced by various providers, the baked into the contract means the customers have to pay them.
Some providers won’t just stop at the rate of inflation. They will be adding an additional percentage which in some cases could even be around 3.7%.
Broadband provider’s price rises in 2022
TalkTalk – 9.1% (as of 1 April)
EE Broadband – 9.3% (as of 31 March)
Vodafone – 9.3% (as of 1 April)
John Lewis Broadband – 9.3% (as of 1 March)
BT – 9.3% (as of 31 March)
Plusnet – 9.3% (as of 1 March)
What can I do about broadband contract price increases?
Based on the Ofcom rules, telecom providers must give their customers the right to exit the contract penalty free should prices increase more than inflation. However, because these price increases are part of the contract, they don’t qualify under the same rules.
Some providers don’t include the price increases in their contracts and have opted for ad hoc raises instead. An example would be Virgin Media which has already increased the price of many of their deals by £4.70 a month. As Virgin Media’s price increase is not in the contract, customers have the power to switch once they have been notified of any above-inflation increase.
If you are out of contract, it’s the best time to compare deals with providers that have not resorted to price increases during the contract. Hyperoptic is one of the providers, and you can check their deals here.
The offers from Hyperoctics might not suit everyone’s needs or be available in every area. In a perfect world, this would not be the case, and no increases would happen during the contract; however, it’s far from being an ideal world.
What you need to keep in mind is that although an annual price increase for broadband is something to consider, you will still be better off in a fixed-term contract than staying on an old deal.
Most providers will increase their prices during the contract, so the best thing to do is to compare the best deals on the market and switch as soon as you are free to do so.
To check out the best broadband deals on the market click here.
#4 Weigh up your TV package
If you’ve been on the same TV package for a few years, it’s time to consider whether it’s still what you need and if you are paying the right amount for it.
The increase in streaming services and the fact that more and more providers offer flexible deals means that it’s worth double checking whether you still need your service or you could get a better deal with a different provider.
It’s also now possible to get, for instance, Sky Atlantic with BT, Sky sports with Virgin Media, and BT Sport with TalkTalk.
A big one to remember is that introductory offers will usually cost less by at least £20 per month, which means that simply by switching at the end of your fixed contract, you can potentially save hundreds per year.
To check our TV bundles click here.
#5 Bundle services together
You are more than likely paying for services like broadband & home phone, mobile phone services and a TV package, all from different providers.
By bundling all of them together you could be saving considerably each month.
There are providers such as Sky that will cater for all the above services. Bundle packages are usually cheaper by a bit than paying separate bills for each service.
The example above is just one way to bundle services. To see which services you could be bundling make a list of all your bills and check which providers offer bundles with the type of services you need.
Click here to check out some of the best broadband, TV and phone bundles.
#6 Don’t pay for more than you need
Ultra-fast broadband, additional services, and being out of contract could be the perfect recipe for paying over the odds for your services.
The faster the speed of broadband, the higher the bill.
Unless you absolutely need it, the high-end broadband deals with additional services bundled into the package (that you probably never use!) might not be the best for you.
Check with your broadband provider what package you are on, your speed, and any additional services that have been added to your package. Once you have the information of what exactly you are paying for, you can assess if that’s the best deal for you and compare it with what’s on the market.
Choosing the right package for your needs can be daunting; however, in order to establish what is suitable for your household, we have put together a list of questions to consider.
How many devices use the Wi-Fi network?
Are you working from home? If yes, what sort of job do you do? Is it one where speed is essential?
Do you have kids, and will access to the internet help with schoolwork?
If you work from home, your kids need internet access, and you want to enjoy a nice movie in the evening, don’t go for very cheap offers.
Cheap offers usually mean low speeds, and you might discover that you struggle to do everything your household is used to.
However, if you feel that the speed you are on right now is too slow, you could potentially find a better deal at a higher speed that will keep your costs around the same as they are now.
#7 Choose right contract length
Depending on the service contract lengths can vary from monthly rolling agreements to three-year commitments.
One of the most important factors when looking at the length of the contract is your living situation. Are you renting? Do you own your own home? Are you living with friends or family? Are you a student?
All of the above will influence what length of service you can opt for.
Longer contracts tend to cost less per month; however, you have to consider if you would need to move at any time during the contract. Moving won’t usually cause complications, but in some cases, the next property can’t have the type of connection you’re currently using for various reasons, which could lead to extra arrangements and costs.
If you’re a student, you might be tempted to opt into monthly rolling or shorter contracts. Keep in mind that, in that case, you would more than likely pay more each month.
Contract lengths might not affect you if you aren’t expecting to move house anytime soon. Still, it is always better to check the total cost and any setup fees when signing up for a new deal.
Can I switch broadband if I’m still in contract?
The short answer is yes however you might have to pay early termination fees.
One way to get out of the contract penalty-free is if your provider increases their prices or makes any detrimental mid-contract changes that were not agreed by you when you took out the service.
In the case of broadband contracts, another way to get out of the contract early is if the provider does not comply with the minimum-speed guarantee. If you have issues with your speed, contact your provider at your earliest convenience and give them a chance to fix it. If they can’t, you should be able to terminate without an exit fee.
Ofcom has said in June that providers of telecom services must permit customers to leave the contract if any changes made mid-contract do not benefit them. For example, suppose the provider increases their late fees, paper billing, or any other changes that negatively impact the customer. In that case, they must inform you a month in advance and offer you the right to exit penalty-free.
The change is part of the new rules that took effect on the 17th of June 2022 and is meant to help consumers make more informed decisions.
If you want to compare the best broadband deals on the market, click here.
#8 Be aware of limited broadband deals
Not something that happens all that much these days; however still one to keep in mind. Some broadband deals offer limited data and will charge you extra for going over.
These are similar to the data allowance you get with your mobile service.
With limited broadband deals, the likelihood of the cost being over the odds for the extra you use is really high.
If the package price seems too good to be true, check the type of data it offers. Most deals now offer unlimited data, but it’s always best to be on the safe side and check.
If you only use a limited amount of data a month, then these deals could be for you; however, check the contract length as you don’t want to be stuck in a deal that won’t be right for you in a year.
On Switchity, we clearly displayed which packages have unlimited data and which don’t, so you will know that immediately.
To compare the best broadband deals on the market, click here.
#9 Compare new deals on the market
The best way to save is to make sure you set a reminder about a month before your contract expires and compare the market for new deals.
After your contract has expired, the notice for cancelling drops to 30 days.
Be it that the provider you are with is excellent and you would otherwise not have a reason to move when a service is out of contract, the likelihood of the monthly payment skyrocketing is very real.
After you are out of contract, the risk is also that the provider can increase the bills at any point. Not only will you be paying more just because you are out of contract, but you can expect surprise increases.
Make sure you have a good understanding of what the new price for the service will be when you are out of contract, the package details, and the end date.
Once you have all the above, you can start comparing and choosing the best deal for your circumstances.
#10 Switch and start saving
All you have left to do now is to switch and start saving!
You can switch anytime you want; however, if you are still in contract, you will likely incur early termination fees.
Now, saying that sometimes even with the early termination fees, it still makes sense to switch early because the deal is so good, and over time it would save you more.
How do I switch from one broadband provider to another?
First, you need to find out if the deal you want to go for is available in your area. To check the service availability in your area, use our broadband postcode checker. All you need to do is pop in your postcode.
Once you have established if the deal is available in your area and you are happy with all the details, all you need to do is complete the online order and start enjoying your new service. To make things even better, if you choose to switch with Switchity, not only will you be saving, but you will be contributing to the restoration of our planet, and we will plant three trees on your behalf.
Click here to head to our comparison and start saving.