Broadband bundle bargains overlooked by customers
Ofcom's latest Communications Market Report revealed that 47% of broadband customers do not take advantage of the savings offered by bundled packages, even though they can offer greater value for money and the convenience of dealing with one provider.
Broadbandchoices.co.uk, the UK's leading Ofcom-accredited comparison site, has found that the potential savings for consumers who bundle up their broadband, digital TV and home phone service with one supplier can be up to £210 per year. With almost half of the UK's broadband customers failing to take advantage of this money saving benefit, that is equivalent to hundreds of millions of pounds being wasted every year - a staggering amount of money.
Michael Phillips, product director, commented: "Broadband is now used by nearly three quarters of the UK population and it is fast being perceived as a genuine utility that is just as important a service as a home phone connection or electricity supply - yet consumers continue to pay more than they need to.
"We were staggered by the amount of money being needlessly spent by broadband customers who don't take a bundled package. With household budgets under such pressure at the moment, it is foolhardy to ignore the savings that bundled deals offer to consumers.
"I strongly encourage anyone currently paying separate suppliers to get online and use an Ofcom-accredited comparison calculator to see what cost-saving bundled offers are available in their area. With potential savings of up to £210, consumers certainly have nothing to lose."
Broadbandchoices.co.uk's top tips on what to consider when choosing a broadband bundle:
1. Check availability - compare deals in your area - the first step is to check what is available in your area as package availability and costs vary by postcode. Use an Ofcom approved comparison calculator to check out the best deals and see how your current package compares against the latest ones.
2. Buy online - the best deals are usually found online, with connection fees often being waived for signing up online; while exclusive offers are frequently available through price comparison sites.
3. Be realistic - try realistically to 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).
4. TV channels - all packages and providers offer slightly different combinations (or packs) of channels. Make sure you do your homework and factor-in the cost of adding those crucial sports packs or movie channels, depending on your priorities.
5. Broadband speed - whilst non-cable services can offer impressive broadband speeds, Virgin Media'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. However, if you are a large family with multiple PCs in the home competing for bandwidth, it could be time to upgrade to a fast 20Mb+ connection.
6. Home phone - check to ensure that the call package is relevant to your specific needs. Do you need free evening or weekend calls (or both)? Also check the cost of calling internationally and charges for calling mobile phone networks, as these can prove expensive but are often forgotten when choosing a bundle.
7. Functionality - if you want to go for high definition (HD) 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 research beforehand so you get a service that works for you.