Sky, BT and Virgin users must avoid simple mistake or face bigger bill

UK broadband users must check their broadband contract or face paying much higher prices. That’s a fresh warning from Uswitch who say their latest research has revealed many homes simply aren’t switching to new deals once their current plan comes to an end.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) almost always offer attractive discounts in a bid to sign new users up for their services.

However, once these initial bargains end things can go up by a considerable amount. Just last month Express.co.uk reported how one broadband bill rose by a whopping £15 per month after an 18-month deal ended and a standard tariff was applied.

It’s a national problem as, across the country, more than two in five (46 percent) Britons saw an increase of at least £4.99 per month in their broadband spending over the past 12 months.

It’s clearly a big issue with Uswicth saying that over a third of Britons admit they’ve never switched broadband providers, despite this potentially leading to them paying more than they should to stay connected.

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By moving provider or trying to renegotiate a deal with your current ISP you can find savings of up to £162 a year.

With the cost of living increasing and energy bills now higher than ever, making this simple saving is more important than ever.

When shopping around for a new deal it’s worth remembering that there is now more choice thanks to a surge in smaller ISPs popping up all over the country.

These firms often provide faster speeds at cheaper prices so it’s worth seeing if anyone new has just laid cables on your street. Even if you don’t want to move provider, it’s worth keeping an eye on when your contract is ending as a quick call can save you money. Most ISPs won’t want to lose your business and will probably offer to reduce your rate if you threaten to leave them.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST UK BROADBAND DEALS

• Community Fibre – 1Gbps speeds – £25 per month
SEE THE DEAL HERE

• Hyperoptic – 500Mbps speeds – £30 per month
SEE THE DEAL HERE

• Virgin Media – 108Mbps speeds – £26.99 per month
SEE THE DEAL HERE

• Toob – 900Mbps speeds – £25 per month
SEE THE DEAL HERE

• Gigaclear – 600Mbps speeds – £26 per month
SEE THE DEAL HERE

Speaking about the latest research and the importance of switching deals Max Beckett, broadband expert at Uswitch.com, said: “When you near the end of your broadband contract, it’s important to check if there’s a better service from another provider that’s more suited to your needs. This could mean faster speeds, a cheaper monthly payment, better customer service or even all three.

“When your current package ends, your monthly charge will most likely rocket up from your fixed-term offer to the provider’s ‘standard’ price. This means you could be forking out a lot more than you expected if you don’t re-contract or switch to a new plan.

“Typically, consumers can save an average of £162 a year by switching to a new broadband deal.”