5 ways to cut the cost of your broadband

It seems like only yesterday that access to the internet was a novelty rather than a necessity.

Nowadays, logging on to the worldwide web is taken for granted by most households. From ordering groceries, booking holidays, checking emails, updating social media and chatting with friends, to downloading music and streaming television, a fast, secure and reliable broadband line is now a fundamental part of our daily lives.

Of course, as with other essential services, it’s possible that you could be paying more than necessary. Quidblog runs through a few handy hints and tips to ensure you’re not paying over the odds on your monthly broadband bill...

How much do you use?

Most broadband service providers offer packages with both capped and unlimited monthly usage allowance. Inadvisably, very few people actually bother to check how much data they are actually downloading on a monthly basis before deciding which is the best package for them. Indeed, unless streaming videos and/or downloading a large number of music or film files, there’s a good chance your needs could be catered for on a cheaper capped tariff.

Keep a record of your browsing for a couple of months and then use a broadband usage calculator, to work out if you could downgrade from an unlimited package. Remember if you do have a capped allowance, you are liable for an extra charge if you exceed the limit, but that can be quite small or just mean a reduction in speed until the following month.

A need for speed?

In a competitive environment it’s hardly surprising that rival internet service providers are continually upping the ante in the race to deliver their customers the fastest possible connection. The questions consumers need to ask themselves are, how fast do they need their broadband to be, and is it worth paying extra for it?

Ofcom describes proper broadband as 2 megabits per second or over, and this is the minimum bandwidth needed for video services such as the BBC's iPlayer. Therefore, if you’re only listening to music or streaming video occasionally basic ADSL packages offering between 16-30Mbps will suffice – even taking into account the fact actual speed is affected by numerous factors. You can check the speed of your current connection using a speed tester.

Barter a discount

After Ofcom banned the use of Automatically Renewable Contracts (ARCs) in 2011, customers are no longer tied to automatically renewed long-term contracts on their phone and broadband deals. Make a note of when your contract ends, research alternative deals and a month or two before your deal is due to expire call the customer services team.

Tell them you’re thinking about moving and then ask for your MAC (Migration Authorisation Code) which is needed to minimise the amount of time you’re disconnected from the net when moving between providers. Play your cards right, stay polite and your current ISP may well offer you a better deal than you’ve already got. They may even do you a deal to match or better the terms on offer elsewhere. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s worth a shot.

Bundle your services

Arguably the best way to save cash on your broadband deal is to bundle it together with the cost of your telephone line and/or television package. Most ISPs offer telephone services, while the likes of BT, Virgin and Sky also provide television. While it’s not unusual to hold a BT telephone line, a TalkTalk internet connection and a Sky dish, the discounts and occasional bonuses which come from having an all-in-one contract are substantial.

Mobile phone services should be taken into account. O2 mobile customers are eligible for discounts on a same-brand home broadband subscription, while Virgin Media customers with their cable TV and internet package  have access to cheap mobile phone deals.

Earn Cashback

If you’re looking for a bundle or stand alone deal on your broadband then you’re well advised to visit Quidco. Through either the brand new Quidco Compare service for home, business and mobile broadband, or the exclusive deals available with specific retailers such as Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk , BT , Orange  and Plusnet you’re bound to find not just great savings but also huge cashback offers as well.

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