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Britain isn't bundling: £2.3bn down the drain on unbundled deals

25th October 2012 Print

Considering the savings that can be made from bundling your broadband with your home phone or digital TV service, you might assume that bundling was a no-brainer?

Not so, according to new research from broadbandchoices.co.uk which revealed one in three UK broadband customers do not bundle up their home communications services - potentially pouring more than £2.3 billion down the drain every year.

When asked why they chose to stay unbundled, 33% claimed they did not believe it would offer better value for money whilst 27% felt it would be too much hassle to switch all services to one provider. A further 22% didn't think they would get a good enough quality of service through a bundled option.

Dominic Baliszewski, telecoms expert, commented: "The number of bundled broadband deals has exploded over the last few years, as providers fight to get a larger slice of your household spend. These bundled deals offer fantastic value when compared against buying two or more services separately, with possible savings of over £400 in the first year - enough money to pay for a weekend away for two.

"It is disappointing to see so many broadband customers missing out on bundle savings because they are worried about the cost or hassle of switching. It is incredibly easy to switch provider nowadays and customers will have the added convenience of just one bill to keep track of. Bundled deals vary by postcode so use an Ofcom-accredited comparison site to see what is available in your area and save a chunk of cash."

Broadbandchoices.co.uk's top tips on what to consider when choosing a broadband bundle:

1. Think literally - try to realistically consider your needs as a broadband user. If you spend over 2 hours per day using iPlayer or downloading music and film you will need a package that can support that activity (20GB+ or an ‘unlimited' usage allowance). If all you do is email and surf the net you'll probably only need a basic service (20GB or lower).

2. TV channels - all packages and providers offer slightly different combinations (or packs) of channels. Make sure you do your home work and factor in the cost of adding that crucial sports pack or movie channels, depending on your priorities.

3. Broadband speed - whilst non-cable services can offer impressive broadband speeds, Virgin Media and BT's cable technology does provide very fast and very reliable broadband. But it's horses for courses and if you're a light internet user, high speed and unlimited downloads might not be the most pressing issue. A large family with multiple PCs in the home competing for bandwidth would benefit most from a fast 30Mb+ connection.

4. Home phone - check to ensure that the call package is relevant to your specific needs. Do you need free evening and weekend calls or do you make most of your calls during the day? Also check the cost of calling internationally and charges for calling mobile phone networks, as these can be expensive but are often overlooked when choosing a bundle.

5. Functionality - If you want to go for high definition television, Sky is pretty hard to beat, whilst those who are more concerned with video on demand services might be better off opting for Virgin Media. Either way do your homework beforehand so you get a service that includes all the channels you want (for example, Sky Atlantic is only available to Sky customers).

6. Compare your current deal with the latest offers using an Ofcom accredited comparison service such as Broadbandchoices.co.uk. The best deals are usually found online and exclusive offers are frequently available through price comparison sites.