WITH broadband bills set to rise in weeks, it might be time to think about haggling or switching to cut costs – but timing is everything.
Despite the cost of living crisis, telecoms providers have confirmed they will hike the prices of phone and broadband bills.
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The majority of customers will see their costs go up from April, though some will already be paying the increase.
Prices will typically rise by a whopping 14% next month, adding an extra £44 a year for those in contract and more for those whose deal has expired.
Firms blame soaring bills on dealing with regulatory requirements, higher energy and network costs.
However, for some, there may be ways to avoid the hike, or at least cut costs.
The Sun has chatted with experts about the best time to haggle or switch – and it depends on your situation.
If you’re out of contract then switch now
Whether you should attempt to switch or haggle depends on where you are in your contract, Catherine Hiley, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com said.
More specifically, it depends on if you’re out of contract or mid-contract.
She said: “If you are out of contract, now is the time to compare your current deal with what’s out there and explore your options.”
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Customers who switch could save an average of £162 a year on their broadband bills, according to data from Uswitch.
While mobile phone customers could save a huge £321 by switching.
Most major providers – including Vodafone, Virgin Media 02, BT, TalkTalk and Shell Energy – will allow you to switch to a new deal before April 1 and avoid mid-contract increases entirely until 2024.
Meanwhile, Sky customers who sign up now would still see a price increase on some contracts.
If you’re in contract, make note of any exit fees
If your contract doesn’t end before April and you try to switch, you may incur a penalty fee.
So check what your provider has in place to avoid any unnecessary charges.
Catherine added: “If there are charges, add them to the price increase from your current provider and compare to the potential savings if you switch to a competitor to see if it’s worth making a change.
“Providers will be keen to keep customers, so you could also take the information on competitor prices and speeds back to your current provider and ask for a better deal.
“There’s often room for negotiation if you’re happy with their service.”
Key discount dates throughout the year
Regardless of whether you’re within a contract or not, there are key dates to look out for when it comes to discounts, said Alex Tofts, broadband expert at Broadband Genie.
It’s worth making a note of these dates and preparing for any upcoming discounts providers may be offering.
He said: “Black Friday has grown significantly in the last five years to the point where no provider can really afford to ignore it.
“As they try to outdo each other, it’s the ideal time to switch.
“The first big offers usually start to appear around a week before Black Friday and typically last until a few days after Cyber Monday.”
“If you do decide to switch then, consider 12 or 24-month deals, so they expire in time for another set of Black Friday discounts.”
Another key date Alex said to consider is around the end of the financial year as this is when companies may also cut costs.
“Broadband providers have been known to follow other annual patterns, such as offering good deals around their financial year-end, typically the end of March.
“Customer service agents often work on commission and have sales targets to hit.
“If it’s been a slow month for them, they may be more likely to respond to haggling in the second half of the month.”
He cautioned that if a provider doesn’t commit to shielding customers who sign up in March from a price rise in April, you’re better off waiting.
He said: “If so, it may be wiser to wait a week or two into April before you commit to a new contract.”
How much will my bill increase by?
Your internet provider or mobile network should contact you to let you know how much your bills will increase in April.
If you’re an BT, EE, Plusnet or Three customer, there’s an easy way to work out how much more you’re set to pay from April.
Just find out what 14.4% of your current monthly bill is – you can use an online percentage calculator to work that out.
If you’re a Virgin customer you’ll need to use 13.8% instead, though remember this is an average rise.
Then add those two figures together – this will give you your new monthly payment.
To find out your annual cost, times that total figure by 12.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
