Broadband Guide

Broadband without direct debit

Updated: Tuesday 04 January, 2011

By Editorial - news@consumerchoices.co.uk

All broadband providers other than the Post Office (www.PostOffice.co.uk) will charge you extra if you pay without direct debit. Find out how much your ISP could charge you if you choose to pay in cash, by cheque or credit card.

Broadband without direct debit

Post Office Broadband (www.PostOffice.co.uk) is the only provider that allows customers to pay their bills in cash, over the counter in branches - a great solution for those on a tight budget, making broadband accessible to many. As well as accepting cash payments in its branches, the Post Office doesn’t charge any additional fee to customers who choose to pay this way, or by cheque. And of course, if you want to pay by direct debit you can do that too.

What kind of fees do ISPs charge?

The amount that you will be charged if you don’t pay by direct debit varies from one broadband provider to the next, as does the alternative payment options available.

For example, BT Broadband (www.BT.com), the UK’s largest broadband provider, doesn’t accept credit card payments and charges an additional £1.80 per month to customers paying by cheque.

Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com), the UK’s second largest ISP and cable operator, does accept credit card payment but charges a massive £5 a month for cheque or credit card payments - a total of £60 a year on top of your broadband costs.

TalkTalk Broadband (www.TalkTalk.co.uk) charges £4.50 a month for non-direct debit payments and Orange Broadband (www.Orange.co.uk) charges £2 a month, while some other providers simply don’t accept alternative payments.

No added cost

Although the Post Office is the only provider to accept cash payments, there are other ISPs that offer free cheque and credit card payments. For example, Demon Broadband (www.Demon.net) customers can pay by monthly cheque or credit card without being charged extra.

Plusnet Broadband (www.Plus.net) customers can also pay using these methods without incurring an extra fee, but cheques must cover the annual cost of the package and credit card payments must be made a month in advance.

Cheques are on the way out

While some other ISPs might not charge for credit card payments, many no longer accept cheques at all. Just as many shops don’t take cheques any more, as plastic has taken over, a number of broadband providers including Be broadband (www.BeThere.co.uk), O2 (www.O2.co.uk), Sky Broadband (www.Sky.com) have also adopted this policy. However, they will accept credit card payments made a month in advance without any extra charge.

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