New guide to getting cheaper broadband before end of this month without switching provider

Broadband users across the UK have just been hit with significant price rises, with BT, Plusnet and EE increasing by 7.9 per cent, Sky at 8 per cent and 02 and Virgin Media at a whopping 8.8 per cent - even if you’re still in the middle of a fixed-price contract.

Broadband providers tie their annual price hikes to a measurement called the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and this year, the CPI is sky-high, leading broadband companies to increase their prices to match. The prospect of having to pay more for broadband bills than you did last month should be all the nudge needed to make sure you’re not missing out on a simple way to slash outgoing costs - especially when your usage levels haven’t changed.

The quickest way to find out if you can change your package to a cheaper deal is to contact your provider, and if you’re on benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, you may be able to switch to a social tariff - find out more here.

Before you contact your provider, Liz Hunter, Director at Money Expert, has shared a complete step-by-step guide to help people cut their broadband costs.

Check if you are out of contract

Look into the terms of your contract to find out if you’re in or out of contract. You can usually find out by logging in online or checking the initial paperwork that was sent through.

If you’re out of contract, you’re in luck. This means the agreement you made with your provider has now ended and the terms no longer apply. Even better, it means you’re free to switch to a better value deal, with no exit fees.

If you’re still in contract, you can still change providers, but you may be subject to an early cancellation fee. The good news? If you don’t want to pay the fee, there are still some tips and tricks you can use to lower your bill with your current provider.

Think about what speed you really need

Consider how you use the internet daily - if you’re the only internet user in your home and only need to use the internet for casual browsing, sending emails and watching low-resolution videos, then a speed of 30MBps or under is more than enough.

But if you work from home, use devices for entertainment like gaming and have multiple devices in use at the same time, it’s worth considering faster speeds - but this does come at a cost.

For example, a 24-month, 36Mbps contract with BT will currently set you back around £28.99 per month. If you were to upgrade to an ultra-fast 500Mbps speed, this would increase to £49.99 per month. Throughout the two-year contract, that’s over £500 more.

If you’re in contract and decide you could move to a lower speed, you can use this as leverage to haggle with your current provider. If you’re out of contract, being informed means you can avoid paying for more speed than you need when you secure a new deal.

Remember to double-check what speeds are available in your area using Ofcom’s Broadband Checker.

Consider bundling up

Most providers offer bundled packages - which could include broadband, TV and mobile - at a lower overall cost than buying each service separately. This can be a good way to snag instant savings, so it’s a good idea to weigh up the potential cost of both during your search.

However, don’t let your provider fool you into fancy bundles and talk you into paying for a service you don’t need. If you only watch free channels and use minimal mobile data, a huge TV and mobile package might not be the best deal and could cost you more long-term.

Be aware bundling up can also make it harder (and more of a hassle) to cancel, change providers or negotiate any mid-contract price rises.

Use comparison sites to benchmark the best deals

Now you’re armed with all the information you need - in particular, what speed you need and whether you’re open to a bundle deal - head to a comparison site to find out which provider can offer you the lowest price.

Don’t make any moves yet, though. For now, make a note of the deals that seem the best value to you. Make sure to include the provider, contract length, speed, monthly cost, set-up cost and any freebies or incentives.

Start haggling - in most cases, it works

Armed with a list of providers and the deals they can offer you, call up your provider and start the haggling process.

Customers who are willing to phone up and haggle with their broadband provider save an average of 7 per cent - almost enough to mitigate the impact of April’s price increase.

If you’re out of contract or about to come out of contract, see if they can match the deals you’ve found online - or, even better, offer a lower price. If you’re still in contract, use your research to negotiate a better deal.

For example, you might:

• Ask to cancel services you don’t use, such as a TV package or landline

• Ask to add services, such as a mobile or TV package, to secure an overall discount

Ask to reduce the speed

Don’t forget to mention the deals you find online as leverage to secure a discount, especially if you found significantly cheaper deals from other providers.

If you’ve been a customer for years, let them know - customer loyalty really can work in your favour.

If you are still not satisfied, threaten to cancel

If your provider refuses to negotiate, threatening to cancel can be a good move to make. However, if you’re still tied into a lengthy contract, make sure to find out the exit fee before you do so.

If you’re out of contract - or mid-contract, but comfortable paying the potential exit penalty - you’re in a much stronger position. Let your provider know that, regrettably, you're considering leaving.

This typically means you’ll be passed to the ‘customer retention’ team, who’re often able to offer much stronger discounts and better deals to tempt you to stay. If they can’t, it could be time to leave and secure one of the better deals you found online.

Just remember to be kind and courteous to the phone handler as getting frustrated or angry is a sure-fire way to discourage them from helping you find a better deal.