5 Broadband Switching Myths That May Be Costing You £100s
There are over 8 million customers who are currently out of contract with their broadband provider, according to the UK’s communications regulator Ofcom.
As a result, millions of households across the country are overpaying by a mind-blowing total of £804 million for their broadband, phone and TV services.
Yet, it seems that people are hesitant to switch... with only 22% getting a new broadband deal in the last year. Why is this?
There are a lot of myths surrounding the switching process which could be putting people off. The truth is, you have probably been misinformed and you are losing out on £100s a year.
It’s time to set the record straight, so continue reading as we bust the five most common broadband switching myths.
Myth 1: “It will take ages to look for a new deal”
The truth:
Would you accept up to £300 for a few minutes of your time? Of course you would! That’s how long it could take you to search for a new broadband deal... and you could save a lot from doing so!
There are many comparison sites out there that list deals from multiple providers. They let you easily compare important factors like provider, speed, contract length and price – helping you find the right deal for your needs.
It shouldn’t take you long at all to find a new broadband deal... you could do it on your morning commute to work, while queuing at the shops, or while your tea is in the oven!
Myth 2: “Coordinating the switch is too much work”
The truth:
According to Uswitch, 32% of people in the UK that believe switching is “too much hassle”... but this isn’t true!
While the process may have been hard work and long-winded back in the day, it’s not now. In fact, it’s easier than ever thanks to new rules from Ofcom.
The communications regulator has ordered broadband providers to manage the entire switching process – from cancelling a person’s current contract to coordinating the activation/deactivation dates. Customers can now sit back and relax knowing everything is all taken care of.
Myth 3: “I won’t save any money by switching”
The truth:
This is one of the main reasons why people don’t switch to a new broadband provider. 72% said they were 'fairly' or 'very' confident that they were already on the best deal.
However, research shows that if a customer is out of contract with their current broadband provider, their price could have increased by up to 89% from when they first took out the deal.
The best prices are reserved for new customers – so there is a high chance you could save £100s by switching. You could even secure faster speeds for the same price or less!
Myth 4: “I’ll be offline for weeks while the switch takes place”
The truth:
If you switch to a new provider, you will not be cut off from the internet!
Your current contract will continue until your new service is set up and ready to go live... and don’t worry this will all be organised by your new broadband provider, so you don’t have to lift a finger.
They will liaise with your old network to set up the deactivation date for the same day and near to the same time as the activation of your new service. Customers should only experience a disconnection period of up to around an hour.
Myth 5: “I won’t be able to keep my email address”
The truth:
Is your email address hosted by your current broadband provider? For example, you may have an address ending with @BT.com or @sky.com. Well, you’ll be pleased to know there are ways you can switch and keep your email address.
Depending on your provider, you may be able to keep it for free or pay a small monthly fee. Take a look at some popular providers below and the options they offer:
BT lets you keep your email with basic features for free or you can pay £7.50 to keep the same features you have now.
With Sky, you can keep your email account as long as you want for free.
Plusnet offers a mail-only package, which costs a small fee on a monthly basis.
