UK’s cheapest line rental
Millions of British home phone customers face higher bills when price hikes come into effect from 1st October, however many will simply continue to pay for a costlier service without actually investigating what alternatives are available to them.
Ofcom's recent Market Communications Report found that a meagre 10% of land line customers had switched to a better deal in 2009, whilst in 2008 the figure was no better.
The Primus Home Saver line rental package, the UK's cheapest monthly line rental deal available exclusively through Homephonechoices.co.uk, offers free weekend and evening calls to UK landlines and costs just £8.99 per month, offering savings of up to £36 per year.
Michael Phillips, product director, Homephonechoices.co.uk commented: "The monthly line rental charge is increasingly being questioned by consumers who have seen already seen prices rise this year, despite an environment where many people are tightening their belts to make ends meet. However people are still not switching regularly as Ofcom's latest report shows - line rental is fast becoming the ‘forgotten bill.'
"Home phone customers who do not regularly shop around are missing a trick as it is incredibly easy to switch nowadays. The best deals are to be found online but many come with a lot of hidden costs (call connection fees for example), so it is important to use a reliable Ofcom-accredited price comparison site to compare packages by postcode. With the UK's cheapest monthly line rental deal from Primus currently costing £8.99 per month, there has never been a better time to switch."
Top tips to bring down your home phone bill:
1. 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.
2. Go for paperless billing - Some providers offer useful savings if you receive your statements online, not by post. You'll also be doing your bit for the environment.
3. 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.
4. Beware mobile costs - Calling mobile phones is a universal burden nowadays so be sure to check how much it will cost you per minute to call a mobile phone from your landline; costs vary hugely between providers.
5. Consider calling pack add-ons - If you have specific needs from your home phone service, for example if you make a lot of calls to international numbers, it may be worth getting a suitable calling plan add-on to keep a lid on those costs.
6. Optimise your calling - if you have free mobile to mobile minutes on contract phone, then use these to call other mobiles. Use your land line to call landlines and 0870 numbers (as some providers include these).
7. Pay annually - Customers who pay up front for the whole year can save even more money. When paying by lump sum, Primus, BT and Sky's monthly line rental payments come down to £8.25, £9.49 and £9.00 respectively.