While savvy families are getting the hang of switching energy suppliers to cut household costs, when it comes to broadband we’re not on the same wavelength.
A survey by price comparison website uSwitch found one in three Brits have never changed companies and almost three quarters have been with the same provider for more than five years.
Meanwhile, phone and broadband supplier TenTel reveals the cost of line rental in the UK rises by an average of £12 per year, increasing faster than fuel and general prices over the last five years.
In essence, some households are now paying up to 50% more for their internet and phone connections - missing out on savings of £383 million a year - that's around £69 per household - by remaining loyal. So what can you do about it?
Top 5 best broadband and landline packages
1. TalkTalk Unlimited Broadband
DEAL: £22.50 per month, no setup fee, price includes line rental
BROADBAND: Unlimited, 36mb average speed
HOMEPHONE: £60 phone line installation fee if required
AVERAGE MONTHLY COST: £22.50
FIRST YEAR COST: £270
CONTRACT LENGTH: 18 months
2. NowTV Fab Fibre
DEAL: £25 per month, £60 setup fee, price includes line rental
BROADBAND: Unlimited, 36mb average speed
HOMEPHONE: Free anytime calls
AVERAGE MONTHLY COST: £30
FIRST YEAR COST: £360
CONTRACT LENGTH: None. But after 12 months price goes up to £35.99 per month
3. EE Fibre Max 1 broadband
DEAL: £40 per month, £25 setup fee, price includes line rental
BROADBAND: Unlimited, 145mb average speed
HOMEPHONE: £30 set up fee
AVERAGE MONTHLY COST: £42
FIRST YEAR COST: £505
CONTRACT LENGTH: 18 months
4. Vodafone broadband
DEAL: £23 per month, no setup fee for those already with an OpenReach line, price includes line rental
BROADBAND: Unlimited, 35mb average speed
HOMEPHONE: Free, but may want to purchase a bundle
AVERAGE MONTHLY COST: £23
FIRST YEAR COST: £276
CONTRACT LENGTH: 18 months
5. BT Superfast fibre essential
DEAL: £29.99 per month, £29.99 upfront cost, price includes line rental
BROADBAND: Unlimited, 36mb average speed
HOMEPHONE: Free, but may want to purchase a bundle
AVERAGE MONTHLY COST: £32.48 per month
FIRST YEAR COST: £389.87
CONTRACT LENGTH: 18 months
What are my rights if prices go up?
The good news is you can escape your contract penalty free if the price increases without prior warning.
Under Ofcom’s rules, anyone who has taken out a line rental, broadband or mobile contract after 23 January 2014 can cancel their contract without penalty if their provider increases monthly prices mid-term and did not warn you about the rise when the contract was signed. To cancel, you'll have to let your provider known within 30-days of receiving any price rise correspondence.
Alternatively, use it to your advantage - price increases can give you valuable haggling ammunition to negotiate a better deal.
Have a scroll down for some tips on how to find a phone and broadband package, plus the top bundles of the week. For more advice, you can read more about switching here.
I want to leave but my supplier won't let me penalty-free
If your supplier is not allowing you to leave penalty-free, contact their complaints department or take it to social media. If you do not receive a satisfactory response, take the complaint to Ombudsman Services.
3 questions to ask when switching provider
What’s the broadband allowance? 10GB is advised for light users, (around 14 movie downloads a month), and 20GB for everyday users, (28 movies). If you've a large family, you may want to consider an unlimited plan.
How fast will your connection be? Over half of broadband users have never checked the speed of their internet connection, and two thirds don't know what broadband speed they're actually paying for. To test you current speed, enter you postcode into this handy USwitch speed checker.
Is it a bundle plan? Are free calls - including mobile numbers included? Note, all 0800 and 0808 numbers are free to call from a UK landline.
What is the contract duration and will there be a mid-way price hike? Often the introductory rates are for the first 6 months of your contract only. After that, prices may rise back to standard charges. This is in addition to any small print price hikes. Watch out for the small print.
How easy is it to switch?
If you've been on the same package for as long as you remember, you’re probably now on a monthly rolling contract - you can check this with your provider by giving them a quick call, or logging in to your online account.
If you’re out of contract, research the best and most competitive deal for your useage. If you find a better deal, you’ll be asked to give your current provider 30-days’ notice. The best deals are often available online as you'll get freebies like free shopping vouchers thrown in.
Switching usually takes around one to two weeks, however this can vary. Check the exact time period with your provider - you may also need to fork our for engineer fees to help you set up.
