How to Compare Broadband to Find The Best Deals

There are hundreds of ISPs currently operating in the UK, and all of them want your money. Luckily for consumers, the price of broadband has been dropping for years thanks to such a competitive market, but that doesn’t mean that you’ve automatically found the best deal available. People that use broadband comparison sites to find a deal that’s tailored to their needs are much more likely to be satisfied with their broadband experience.

The best thing about comparison sites is their ability to filter results based on exactly what you require from your internet connection, but what if you don’t know what you’re looking for? We’ve provided you with a few questions to ask yourself that should help you use these sites to choose a new ISP and hopefully, save a lot of money.

How fast does my broadband connection need to be?

One of the most important factors for many consumers is how fast their connection will be. It affects everything from the speed of web and image loading to how well you can stream multimedia and — of course — how quickly you can download. It’s also one of the biggest factors that affect the price of a connection so before you get drawn in by the bigger and bigger numbers ISPs can offer think about your own personal usage. Not everybody needs the fastest internet available in their area, just like not everybody needs to have the fastest car. If you don’t use the web for anything more than checking the occasional web page and reading emails, you don’t need a 10Mbit connection.

Can I use the net when and how I want?

There’s nothing worse than singing a contract that advertises itself as ‘unlimited’ and then finding out two weeks later that your connection will be slowed down just because you’ve downloaded too much. Even worse, you could even been charged for additional usage after you hit your limits and these charges are usually very expensive. ISPs tend to put this information in the ‘small print’ rather than advertise it with the rest of their services so it’s worth taking a look at their ‘Fair Use Policy’. This should detail how much and when you are allowed to download. As with speed, usage policies are unlikely to affect people who use the web for simple tasks.

How long will I be legally bound to my broadband contract?

The length of your contract is often overlooked by consumers but don’t forget that just like every other market, broadband changes. Longer contracts attract customers with cheaper prices but what looks like a good deal today might not necessarily be the best in six months or twelve months time. Broadband is constantly evolving, both in terms of the size of our bills and how good the technology is. You don’t want to be overcharged and then left behind. Make sure you check out exactly how long your contract is and what the ISPs consider to be a breach of contract. You can end up paying a very large sum to leave a contract early.

Are there any extra costs with broadband?

While installation costs are becoming rarer in today’s market, there are still quite a few companies that charge for you to be connected. They may offer cheaper monthly deals and there isn’t anything ‘underhand’ about paying for installation, but don’t forget to ‘add in’ that additional cost along with the monthly price offered. Similarly, if your ISP doesn’t offer equipment like modems or routers you need to budget for these. If you are going to rely on your old equipment, check that it’s compatible with your new service before you sign.

What if something goes wrong?

ISPs are legally bound to provide you with a service, but that doesn’t mean they are forced to provide you with excellent customer care. Poor technical support is one of the biggest complaints amongst broadband users in the UK. With many companies outsourcing their customer service departments overseas, this is destined to continue. Use user opinion to compare the customer service rating of your ISP so you have an idea of how they react to a problem. You might find that you pay a little extra for good customer service but you might need it one day, and some of the budget providers charge astronomical prices for even the most basic of support.

Comparison websites do all the hard work you. They gather details and lay all the facts out for you to make an informed decision. The only thing they can’t do is make that decision for you. Every net user is different. You need to combine the comparison website with your knowledge of your own personal net usage to find the best deal. Good luck!

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