£6 broadband tax to be pushed through before election

Michael Phillips, product director, said: "Our concern is that the upgrading of the UK's broadband infrastructure is a mammoth undertaking and this unpopular tax will barely make a dent in the likely total cost.

"Research we carried out earlier this year indicated that half of consumers felt that line rental costs weren't good value for money. This is just another body blow to customers that have already seen the majority of telecoms suppliers significantly raise line rental charges this year.

"If you aren't on paperless billing (or ‘e-billing') and paying your bills by direct debit, then we would recommend immediately doing this. The savings will - thankfully - more than cover the new broadband tax costs.

"If you are on paperless billing and direct debit and still feel you are paying too much then consider switching to a cheaper supplier. The Primus Home Phone Saver package at £9.49 per month is the cheapest line rental deal available in the UK and is exclusive to Homephonechoices.co.uk."

"Our top tips for getting the best line rental deal are below."

Pay by direct debit - Nearly all providers discourage payment by any means other than direct debit and impose punitive charges of anything up to £5 per month for dealing with cheques. The Post Office accepts payment by various means with no additional charges.

Go for paperless billing - Some providers offer useful savings if you receive your statements online, not by post. You'll also do your bit for the environment.

Check your small print - If you're tied to a 12 or 18 month contract, you may be faced with exit fees if you want to switch before the contract term ends. Weigh up the savings and charges before making your decision as you may find the savings don't merit the switch.