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MoneySavingExpert

Beat back the price hikes!

IT’S NOT JUST energy bills,
council tax and National
Insurance: sadly, huge price
hikes are hitting the BROADBAND
and MOBILE PHONE market too.
There is a sliver of a silver lining
though, as some can and should use
this as an opportunity to radically
cut your bill.
FIRST, let’s go through the price rises… many BT,
EE, Plusnet and Vodafone customers will see 9.3%
rises, TalkTalk 9.1%, Shell 5.4% and Virgin Media £56/ moneysavingexpert.com. It’s tough for me to list them
yr. Your exact rise depends on your package, so it can here as they change so often. But as a range: for basic
be less than this (my team’s compiled the info at mse. 11Mb broadband and speed prices can be as low as £13/
me/PriceHikes2022). Thankfully though those on mth once you’ve factored in the vouchers (eg, Amazon
the special social tariffs for those on low incomes will or a prepaid Mastercard) or you could get fast 63Mb
generally not see price rises.
broadband for £16-£20/mth incorporating the sign-up
Why this may be an incentives.
opportunity to cut bills l MOBILE COSTS ARE SHRINKING – why
These firms have millions of customers who are out pay more than £10/mth? If you’re happy with your
of contract and have simply been rolled on to (often phone, then you can save big by switching your Sim
pricier) tariffs. And that means you’re holstering a - the little chip in your phone that gives it its identity.
Prices for Sims with 4GB data – the average used per
serious consumer weapon – the ability to leave – which
gives you a powerful negotiating position. month – have virtually halved since 2016.
For those who are in-contract, which means you Yet in my recent Twitter poll, around 30% said they
actively signed up to a new tariff within the last year or pay more than £30 a month. Fair enough if you’re
possibly two (do check), then the price rise was likely a repaying a handset, roaming or have credit issues
term of the contract, so there’s little you can do until the and don’t qualify for cheaper deals. But many are
overpaying for no good reason – if that’s you, especially
contract lapses – at which point follow the info below.
if you’re out of contract, do a Sim check to cut your
Option 1: SWITCH & save... bill. A few quick tips:
n It’s easy to keep your number. Just text PAC
In most cases, the biggest savings come from moving for free to 65075 – then give that code to your new
your custom elsewhere, to a firm that is salivating to provider.
win your business. Here’s how to bag the best deal as a
newbie... n Lots of firms use the same signal. There are only
four networks in the UK (EE, O2, Three, Vodafone).
l HALVE YOUR BROADBAND & LINE All the rest piggyback on their signals: for example,
COSTS. GiffGaff uses O2, Smarty uses Three, Plusnet uses
Many are paying £30-£45 a month on standard EE. Find who else uses your preferred network’s signal
packages. Yet the best deals come from short-lived and it should be similar (though do check Wi-Fi calling,
promos you can’t get direct from firms, involving 5G and tethering as these can vary).
cashback or vouchers – they’re on comparison sites. n Top deals are fast moving. As I write there are
We try and compile the best ones at broadband. deals for as little as £4ish a month over 12 months
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