THERE’S nothing worse than slow internet, but how can you get faster broadband without breaking the bank?
Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert revealed how customers can improve speeds without paying anything more, in this week’s newsletter.
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The team said that the best way to get a genuinely good deal is to “pounce on short-lived promo deals.”
The advice comes after BT launched a £15 pound per month 36Mb fibre broadband & line package, for people on universal credit or low incomes.
Money Saving Expert explains that while this is a good deal, families that don’t qualify can still get a brilliant bargain by looking for introductory offers.
Here’s the MSE top three broadband picks at the moment for customers who want great speed and great prices.
Cheapest basic broadband & line deal
- Plusnet – apply now
- £18.50 per month, but works out at effectively £15.17 if you claim the £60 prepaid Mastercard
- 18 month contract
- Average 10Mb broadband
How to save on broadband and TV bills
HERE’S how to save money on your broadband and TV bills:
Audit your subscriptions
If you’ve got multiple subscriptions to various on-demand services, such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Sky consider whether you need them all.
Could you even just get by with Freeview, which couldn’t cost you anything extra each month for TV.
Also make sure you’re not paying for Netflix twice via Sky and directly.
Haggle for a discount
If you want to stay with your provider, check prices elsewhere to set a benchmark and then call its customer services and threaten to leave unless it price matches or lowers your bill.
Switch and save
If you don’t want to stay with your current provider check if you can cancel your contract penalty free and switch to a cheaper provider.
A comparison site, such as BroadbandChoices or Uswitch, will help you find the best deal for free.
Cheapest superfast fibre-broadband & line deal
- Vodafone – apply now
- £22 per month, but works out at effectively £17.84 if you claim back a £100 Amazon voucher through Broadband Genie.
- 24 month contract
- Average 63Mb fibre-broadband
Cheapest megafast fibre-broadband only deal
- Virgin Media – apply now
- £24 per month, but works out at effectively £21.21 if you claim back a £50 Amazon voucher through Money Saving Expert
- 18 month contract
- Average 108Mb fibre-broadband
If you do go with a promo deal, you need to make a note of when your contract ends and then either switch again or haggle the cost down.
The savings can be significant – Money Saving Expert says that lots of households are paying between £30-£45 per month, if you’re at the top end of that you could save nearly £300 a year.
You provider may decide to hike prices in the middle of your contract, although these increases are usually pretty small.
You may be given an option to leave your contract early penalty-free if that happens, so it is worth shopping around to see if you can beat the new price.
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Over 4million low income households can get half price BT broadband and save up to £336 a year.
The best broadband providers in the UK: find out how to get great internet wherever you live.
Virgin Media down – thousands of broadband customers struggle to use internet services
