Approximately eight million broadband customers and 14 million mobile customers are currently out of contract
Millions of mobile and broadband customers could beat April bill price rises by taking action now.
Approximately eight million broadband customers and 14 million mobile customers are currently out of contract and could save money by shopping around, according to Uswitch.
The big mistake is doing nothing and letting your bill creep up without checking for better deals elsewhere, or haggling down your existing provider.
It comes as several major providers including O2, Virgin, Three and Vodafone are set to hike bills from today.
Mobile and broadband firms have been banned from linking mid-contract price rises to inflation – instead, customers must be told in “pounds and pence” how much their bill will increase by.
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch, said people could potentially save a combined £633 by acting now.
He said: “Switching can save broadband customers an average of £329, and mobile customers can save an average of £304 switching from a handset contract to a SIM-only mobile contract.
“In broadband especially, the deals we’re seeing at the moment are the strongest they’ve been in years, as a direct result of fierce competition between providers.”
Compare prices – then haggle or switch
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 such as Uswitch, Compare the Market, Confused.com or MoneySupermarket to find the cheapest deals on the market.
Once you’ve compared prices online, you can then either switch to a new provide 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.
On benefits? You may be eligible for a cheaper tariff
If you claim benefits, check if you are eligible for a cheaper social tariff, with prices starting from £12 a month for broadband and £10 for mobile.
The eligibility varies between suppliers and there isn’t an exact list of benefits that could entitle you to the support.
If you claim Universal Credit, then you should qualify – but other benefits such as Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance may also be accepted.
Around 5.3 million UK households are eligible for the cheaper tariff, research by Broadband Genie found, but around 4.8 million aren’t currently claiming it.
Check with your broadband or mobile supplier to see if you are eligible for their social tariff.
