How to overcome the 14 percent broadband price increase in April
Companies like BT, Plusnet, TalkTalk and Vodaphone are set to increase the price of their broadband services by more than 14% as the cost of living crisis continues.
That’s why broadband experts have outlined some ways customers can fight back and beat the massive price spike.
With that in mind, Broadband Savvy says there are five ways you can save money on your broadband.
How to overcome the massive spike in broadband prices in April
Here’s how you can lower the cost of your broadband amid the big price hike:
Check whether you are entitled to a social tariff
According to Broadband Savvy co-founder Tyler Bevan, there are cheaper plans out there that many broadband customers don’t know about.
BT, Virgin Media, KCOM, Sky and Vodafone all offer Social Tariff plans eligible for Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Disability Allowance or Jobseekers Allowance.
Tyler explains: “With a BT social plan, for example, you pay £15 a month for a 36-megabit plan.
“The same plan would cost around £27 a month without the social plan. And the great thing is that you can apply for a social plan even if you currently have a contract with your provider.”
Ask your provider for help if you have problems
For customers who have entered into a contract, it may seem like the only way to change the terms of your contract is to cancel it.
However, Tyler says, “If you’re tied to a broadband contract and are struggling to pay your bills, it’s always worth calling your provider and asking for help.
“Many broadband providers will help you downgrade to a cheaper plan if you can show you’re having trouble paying the bills.
“Others have an emergency fund designed to help their most vulnerable customers who are in serious need. Finally, if you’re behind on your bills, most broadband providers offer payment plans, helping you minimize the amount of late fees you pay.”
Switch to a broadband provider that does not increase prices during the contract period
While most major broadband providers increase their monthly costs in line with inflation, some providers don’t.
If your current plan has expired, it may be worth switching to a new provider.
Providers like Zen Internet, SSE and Hyperoptic don’t increase prices during the contract period, while Sky allows you to leave if you do.
Make sure you’re paying for the bandwidth you need
Tyler says, “Fast fiber broadband, while great, is also very expensive. We’ve found that many British families are paying for far more bandwidth than they actually need given how many people live at home and how they use the internet.”
“For example, if you’re a two-person household with a 100-megabit broadband plan, you should be able to save at least £60 a year by switching to a 36-megabit package without the hassle of watching buffering or dropouts occurs when using zoom.”
You calculate how much bandwidth you need by visiting the Broadband Savvy website.
Consider switching to a 4G internet connection
Instead of using fiber broadband, it is possible to use 4G technology to get online with many cellular networks that offer 4G routers bundled with a data SIM plan.
Tyler says, “A lot of people are giving up fiber broadband for 4G these days because it’s cheaper and more flexible while still offering good download speeds.”
“With a 4G router, you can get download speeds of around 30-40 megabits, including unlimited data, for a lower price than you would pay for a similar fiber broadband offering. And with 4G technology, you can flexibly pay for your data plan, meaning you don’t have to be locked into a long-term contract like most broadband providers.”
“The downside to using 4G instead of fiber broadband is that your latency is higher. This means you may experience more lag when playing online games like FIFA or Minecraft.”
“Also, before buying a 4G router, you need to make sure you have a good 4G signal at your address.”
Your money matters
Your Money Matters is a campaign launched by us and our sister titles on Newsquest to help you overcome the rise in the cost of living.
This year has seen a slew of household price hikes – from raising the energy price cap to soaring inflation and food prices – that have cost your family hundreds or even thousands of extra pounds a year.
We make it our mission to take care of your money by offering savings, contests, giveaways and insightful stories from your community about how this cost of living crisis is impacting our readers.
The global energy crisis, exacerbated by the invasion of Ukraine, the financial fallout from the Covid pandemic, record high inflation and a rise in the cost of goods, fuel and travel mean we will all feel the pinch.
With our newspaper we want to do everything in our power to make your money better known because we know that your money is important.
