Uswitch called it a ‘badly misjudged move’ and it comes after millions of households saw their bills hiked in April
BT Group has been slammed for introducing new set-up fees of up to £30 from today.
The telecoms giant is now charging a one-off fee of £30 for new BT and EE broadband customers, and £20 for those joining Plusnet.
Uswitch called it a “badly misjudged move” and said upfront set-up fees had all but disappeared from broadband-only deals over the past decade.
New BT, EE and Plusnet broadband customers are locked into 24-month contracts. It comes after most major broadband and mobile providers were hit with bill increases this April.
Ernest Doku, Uswitch broadband expert, said: “At a time where there is continued focus on the cost of living, there should not be a price of entry to saving money on your broadband.
“Worse still, there’s no way for new customers to avoid this new charge. If this is about rising costs of kit, customers who already have a router that works should be able to use their own and skip the fee.
“Charging £30 on the first bill will sting, and will especially put off those households watching every pound from taking what might otherwise be a cheaper deal.”
BT Group has been contacted for comment.
How to save money on broadband
If you’re out of contract, then you’re probably paying too much for your mobile and broadband.
Before you start comparing prices elsewhere, check how many minutes and texts you’re currently using, or your broadband speed, as many people pay for higher allowances that they don’t actually need.
Once you’ve got a good idea of the type of package you want, use a comparison website to find the cheapest deals on the market.
Once you’ve compared prices online, you can then either switch to a new company if you’ve found a cheaper deal, or go back to your existing provider and try to haggle them down.
Explain to them that you’ve found a better price elsewhere and ask them if they can beat it. Being polite is always best when trying to negotiate a better deal.
If they cannot give you a cheaper price, then you may want to consider ditching and switching. If you are switching providers, check cashback websites to see if you can get any incentive for taking out a new broadband or mobile deal.
