|
Is cheap broadband really worth it?
|
Is cheap broadband really worth it?
When it comes to choosing a new broadband package, price is not the only thing that should be considered. You also need to take into account exactly what you could be sacrificing in the name of cheap internet, or the extra benefits you could get for just a few pounds more.
Click here to carry out a UK Broadband Comparison for your household.
Download limits
The vast majority of broadband packages have a download limit - even those that are advertised as “unlimited”, because fair usage policies are often applied.
Over the years, as the amount we all download has increased, ISPs have had to fork out more cash on new hardware and bandwidth to support our increasing habit. As this cost has trickled down to the customer, ISPs have begun to charge for downloading. Even if your broadband package claims to allow unlimited downloads, its fair usage policy means that you could still end up going over your “limit”. Your ISP will usually let this slide the first few times if you’re on an “unlimited” package, but if it continues to happen you’ll be asked to curb your usage, pay extra or upgrade to a more expensive package with a more suitable download allowance.
Sky Broadband (www.Sky.com) has recently removed the fair usage policy from its Max Broadband package making it one of the only truly unlimited consumer packages around. Sky Max Broadband costs £10 a month and has a download speed of up to 16Mb.
Install our free Broadband Download Monitor to keep track of your downloading and set alarms to alert you as you reach your limit.
Compare packages
Today you often have to choose between “unlimited” downloads with an unspecified allowance or a package with a clear, set download limit. You can get an up to 24Mb Home Broadband package from Eclipse (www.Eclipse.net.uk) for just £12.95 a month, with a set download limit of 10GB, or for £10 a month more, you could take the Home Pro package with a whopping 50GB allowance - more than most “unlimited” packages.
If you go for a package with a set download limit, your downloading won’t be restricted during peak hours but you’ll have to pay a set fee if you exceed your limit. This costs £1.25 per GB with Eclipse.
There is no right answer to avoid paying for heavy downloads, but you should be realistic about how much you really download and get an appropriate package that could save you lots of aggravation in the long run.
Read more about fair usage and download limits.
Added value or unwanted extras?
You need to decide if you want to go for stripped down broadband of the kind offered by Eclipse, or a bundled package, including digital television and telephone calls - or even mobile broadband and a mobile phone - of the kind offered by Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com), Sky Broadband and Tiscali (www.Tiscali.co.uk).
Don’t just sign up for extra services because they’re cheap, but if you do want a triple play bundle, there are three big providers to choose from.
Sky offers the best digital TV service, and if your area hasn’t already had its old analogue signal switched off in favour of digital, you’ll soon be thinking about your digital options.
Virgin Media offers the best broadband - regularly appearing at the top of the BroadbandChoices.co.uk speed test league table. Use our free Speed Tester to see how your provider performs.
Tiscali offers the cheapest triple play bundle on the market. With its free line rental offer for all local loop unbundled (LLU) customers, you can get 8Mb broadband, digital TV including Sky’s basic channels, a home phone and line rental for only £15.99 a month for the first three months, £19.99 thereafter.
Protection and security
Buying packages from certain ISPs, like BT (www.BT.com) that offers free Norton internet security worth £49.99, can save money on essential PC security.
It’s not just fact that you’re getting free internet security that makes these packages so attractive; the software is automatically installed when your connection is set up, so if you’re less than confident with your PC, it’s one less thing to worry about.
We list full details of internet security protection that is supplied with each broadband package. Click here to compare broadband packages.
Customer service
Although TalkTalk (www.TalkTalk.co.uk) has now resolved its initial customer service problems after injecting £15 million into improving the service, its past problems made it clear just how important customer service is.
Whether you are experiencing service problems, have an old computer, or are just a technophobe, if you expect to make a lot of calls to customer services, there are two things you need to take into account; the cost of calls, and the quality of the advice you will receive.
In a poll by Mori (2006), almost 80 per cent of British people said that they didn’t like getting through to foreign call centres. If you are one of these people, it might be worth checking out where your provider’s customer service centre is located. For example, BT, Tiscali and Virgin Media - like many others - have call centres in India, though O2 (www.O2.co.uk), offers free, UK-based advice.
While being understood is very important, especially with regard to broadband and the technicalities involved, don’t just assume that because a call centre is abroad, the service will be bad. Do your research; Madasafish (www.Madasafish.com) has call centres in South Africa, but has won awards for service.
Equally important though, is how much your calls will cost. Make sure you know exactly how much you will be paying for your customer service calls and don’t forget to take into consideration how long you’re likely to be on hold for. If you’re having consistent problems with your ISP, keep your bills to record how much it has cost you to get the problem sorted. At one end of the scale, Orange (www.Orange.co.uk) and Tesco (www.Tesco.net) both charge 50p a minute, while O2’s technical support is free.
Use our broadband comparison calculator to check call centre opening hours and get a breakdown of call charges. Why not have a look at our review centre to see what other people say about their providers.
Breaking up is hard to do
Many providers charge for breaking your contract early, even if you’re not satisfied with the service you’re receiving.
Always make sure that you do your research before making a commitment as some providers offer shorter contract terms, and some even offer “no contract” broadband - though you’ll most likely have to pay a connection or exit fee. But always make sure that you read the small print.
Read more about no contract broadband.
If it’s too late and you’ve already signed up but are having problems with your service, you can contact us to see if we can help. Or if you want cheap, reliable legal advice you could try the Which? Legal Service for £25 for six months (see useful sites).
Hidden costs
While most ISPs will provide a free modem or wireless router when you take up a contract, you might find yourself having to pay out for other costs, such as buying additional hardware or paying for the postage of your goods.
Read more on the hidden costs of broadband.
Finally
Remember, it is not just about the price. Bear in mind exactly what you could be sacrificing for the sake of a few pounds a month - high, fast downloads, reliable connection speeds, PC protection, quality customer service and peace of mind.
While it can also be tempting to go for a bundle because of the cheap headline rates or digital television add-on, always be realistic and keep your needs in mind. If you are unlikely to use the extra services then they will just be a waste of money - no matter how cheap they are.
If you’re sure that you have accurately assessed your broadband needs - both in terms of usage and support, then you are more likely to get a package that’s right for you - but that isn’t necessarily the cheapest one.
Do a broadband search. We rank by first year cost, monthly cost and flag any set-up costs. And with an in-depth breakdown of each package, including download penalties and extra benefits, you can make a confident and informed decision.
| 
contact us 
