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Broadband Deals

How to get the best deal on broadband

 

There are hundreds of broadband deals out there and the sheer volume of offers can be confusing so it is wise to know exactly what you want from your broadband deal, and how much you are willing to pay.  It is easy to fall into the trap of “faster is best”, however if you generally only use your computer for emails, browsing the web and the occasional download, you may find that you do not need the fastest speeds and can therefore save yourself the usually higher cost of faster speeds.

 

Broadband deals generally come in two forms when it comes to allowances, unlimited and those with a set allowance.

Unlimited deals normally if not always come with a fair usage policy, which is usually around 40GB per month.  Exceeding this usage doesn’t always mean the service is suspended or additional charges, however, you may well find slower download speeds, and if the allowance is exceeded on a regular basis, your broadband provider may well offer a higher download allowance package.

Deals with a set allowance will charge you if you do go over your quota of downloads so ensure your activity will be within this cap.  

 

 

Top Tips

• Some companies offer add-ons as an incentive such as virus protection and while this can seem like a good deal, make sure you read the small print as this could be for a limited time or you could get this from another provider as a standalone service.
• Also important to check out is if there are any restrictions on the maximum downloading you are able to do either within the month or at specific times of day such as peak hours.  Exceeding any such restriction could result in penalties or the suspension of the service. 
• Remember to check if there is a maximum or cap on the download allowable as everything you do from sending or receiving emails to downloading content such as music or images will add to your total download.
• Bear in mind any additional costs such as help-lines as the charges for this can range from nothing to premium rate calls.
• It can be financially beneficial to chose a package if you know that, for instance, you require your home phone, digital television, mobile phone and possibly mobile broadband, however be careful not to chose a deal that you will not take full advantage of.
• Remember to ask for additional benefits such as a free wireless router as this can also save you money.

 

 

 

The recent Ofcom report on broadband speeds state that 25% of customers are not getting their expected speeds and that there is a significant difference in rural and urban areas, with rural customers not only being charged more for the service but also having to deal with slower download speeds.  However, it is wise to note that only the six biggest internet service providers or ISP’s.