Old bundles, forgotten add-ons and expired deals could be quietly pushing up what we pay each month.
Broadband bills can be sneaky. One month we sign up for a decent deal. Then time passes, the offer ends, extras get added, and suddenly the price is much higher than we expected.
New research from Uswitch says some households with broadband, TV and sports bundles could be paying over £400 a year more than they need to.
What’s hiding in the bill?
The problem is not always the broadband itself. It can be the extras wrapped around it. Old TV bundles. Sports add-ons. Streaming services. Or a deal that ended months ago, while the higher price carried on.
And with the World Cup and other big sporting events coming up, some of us may be tempted to add even more.
Uswitch says 35 per cent of bundle customers wrongly believe they need to stay with their current broadband provider to keep sports channels or streaming. Among customers who already have sport in their bundle, that rises to 53 per cent.
One in five UK adults has upgraded a package to watch a specific sporting event. But of those, 21 per cent never cancelled afterwards.
Oops.
That means we could still be paying for something we only wanted for one match, one season, or one big event.
What can we do?
Uswitch broadband expert Ernest Doku suggests a few simple checks before we sign up, stick with, or upgrade a broadband package:
- Audit our subscriptions
Check which streaming services, sport add-ons or apps we no longer use, especially after a big event or season ends.
- Think about broadband-only
If we do not use the TV extras, a simpler broadband-only deal could be cheaper. It is worth comparing regional providers too.
- Check HD and 4K costs
Some packages charge extra for high-definition or 4K content. If we do not need it, we may be able to cut it.
- Switch at the right time
Check when the contract ends. Leaving early could mean exit fees, but staying too long could mean higher prices.
- Look at flexible streaming
Monthly sport or streaming passes can be cheaper if we only watch certain events, seasons or tournaments.
- Haggle with the provider
If the deal feels too expensive, call and ask for a better price. Some providers offer discounts, bill credits or cheaper packages to keep customers.
Could we get cheaper broadband?
It is also worth checking if we can get a cheaper broadband social tariff. These are low-cost deals for people on certain benefits, including Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
We can compare broadband deals at Uswitch, check social tariffs on Ofcom, or read MoneyHelper’s tips on cutting household bills.
A quick check now could stop our broadband bill scoring an own goal.
