How to save £200 a year on your broadband without having to haggle
MILLIONS of broadband customers could be paying more than they need to for their connection, and there's an easy way to cut your costs.
There's plenty of ways you can bring down your annual outlay, but one simple move could save you up to £200 - and it means you don't have to haggle.
Haggling with your broadband provider is a common tip for anyone hoping to reduce their bill - but many people dread having to call their supplier and negotiate.
Luckily, it's not the only way to cut your broadband bill.
Some experts say the easiest strategy is a simple switch, which means moving away from your current provider to a new one.
Consumer group Which? found that broadband customers who switch away from the "Big Four" providers, which includes BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media, can typically a year.
TV and broadband customers can save even more - typically over £200.
While this trick only really works if you move from a big company - if this is you, it could save you some serious cash.
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Many firms are set to hike bills for customers over the coming months.
Virgin Media already raised customers bills by an average of £56, and Sky customers will see bills go up by £43 next month.
If you're unhappy with what you're paying, it's worth shopping around to see if you can get a better deal.
Other provider may have cheaper offers, faster speeds or better perks.
According to Which?, some introductory offers can be up to 90% cheaper than a standard tariff.
Be sure to check the terms of your current contract though - if you're out of contract, you can move without penalty, but otherwise you could end up having to pay a pricey exit fee.
These charges can be high and could offset any savings you would make by switching, so always check the details of your deal before you switch.
If you're planning on making the move, use comparison sites such as , and to help scour the market.
Of course there's no harm in haggling, and it could save you hundreds of pounds on your bill too.
One Virgin Media customer saved £492 a year after the company tried to double what she was paying a month.
There's no guaranteed your provider will give you a price cut, but it helps to be polite and come armed with research about what deals are available elsewhere.
How else can I save on my broadband?
If there's no way of avoiding the price hike, you could look at getting help to cover the costs instead.
Millions of households on benefits could save £100s on their broadband bills if they are eligible for cheaper social tariffs.
BT, Community Fibre, G.Network, Hyperoptic, KCOM and Virgin Media O2 all offer social tariffs, which allow you to get cheaper deals.
You'll need to apply directly with the provider, which will assess your eligibility.
Ofcom estimates these deals could save struggling households up to £150 a year.
To claim, you'll usually need to be receiving either employment and support allowance, income support, jobseeker's allowance, or Universal Credit.
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Most start from just £15 a month with speeds of up to 50Mbps on offer.
TalkTalk even offers its own , but it's exclusively for job seekers.
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