How to save £300 a year on broadband and double your speed by switching

BROADBAND users who want speedy internet can save £300 a year by switching to a cheaper deal.

If you’re not fussed about a super quick connection, then your yearly saving could be as much as £350.

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This is according to a new table of the best top fast broadband deals by MoneySavingExpert (MSE).

A staggering nine million people are out of contract when it comes to their internet package, says MSE.

On top of this, the money-saving website claims rip-off internet bills with slow speeds can cost up to £45 a month – despite cheaper and quicker deals on the market.

MSE suggests taking advantage of deals during promotional periods.

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The downside to promotional deals is that they’re usually only around for a limited time, so you’ll need to be quick if you want to switch.

You’ll also likely end up paying more once your contract period is up – so don’t forget to compare prices again when your deal is over.

If you’re out of contract now, MSE has listed four current offers to check out, including three with fibre optic speed.

The quickest one, from Vodafone and with speeds of 63Mb fibre, will save you £302.04 a year – this is based on if you’re currently on a deal worth £45.

The deal costs £22.95 a month and is for a 24-month contract, but if you take into account the £75 Amazon gift voucher you get when signing up, this effectively takes the cost down to £19.83 a month.

However, it’s worth considering if you’d usually spend this amount of money on Amazon over the two years anyway.

Alternatively, you can save £319.32 a year with a new deal from Virgin Media.

This 18-month contract includes 54Mb fibre speed and £100 credit directly added to your bill.

The monthly price is technically £23.95, but the £100 bill credit effectively means you’ll pay £18.39 over your contract term.

MSE has also included two Shell Energy deals on its list of top broadband deals, with the speedier option, complete with 35Mb fibre, offering a saving of £314.16.

The deal itself is over 12 months and costs £22.99, although you get £50 credit added to your account for free, which means overall you’re paying £18.82 a month.

However, the most amount you can save comes with the less speedy Shell Energy package.

This comes with a 12-month contract and offers speeds of 11Mb, which is much less than the top deals mentioned.

If you’re not looking for the quickest connection, you’ll save the most with this package though with a whopping £349.08 kept in your pocket over the year.

The monthly cost is £17.99 but this is effectively £15.91 when you factor in the £25 bill credit Shell Energy give you.

For all these deals, you’ll need to apply through the MSE website.

Ernest Doku, broadband expert at Uswitch.com, said: “With the kids at home and government guidance telling us to socially distance, many have found that their broadband connection can’t cope.

“If you aren’t getting the service you need, there has also never been a better time to shop around for a better broadband deal.

“It is important to remember that it isn’t all about price, sometimes a deal can look very attractive because it is incredibly cheap, but when you compare the speed or the service you will be getting to your current provider, it can leave a lot to be desired.”

Are there cheaper deals out there with the same speeds?

When we spoke to comparison site Uswitch, they highlighted an even cheaper deal with quicker speeds than the best one found by MSE.

You’ll save around £308.04 over the year with this deal from TalkTalk, which is offering 67Mb fibre.

This is based on an 18-month contract, priced at £23.50 a month – although this is works out at £19.33 if you take into account a £75 Amazon switch gift.

Find out more through this link.

How to switch broadband providers

First, you’ll need to make sure you’re out of contract – otherwise you could end up paying a hefty leaving fee to get out of your current deal.

If you’re not currently in your contract period, start by using a comparison tool to compare prices.

Uswitch and BroadbandChoices are good places to start.

To find the best deal for you, you’ll need to start by entering your postcode to find out what providers operate in your area.

You’ll then need to provide information about your current provider and what type of speed you’re after.

If you do end up switching, don’t forget to make a note of when your new deal ends – this will serve as a reminder to yourself to compare prices again to make sure you’re still on the best deal.

Don’t want to leave your provider? Haggle a cheaper deal

If you like the service your current network provides, but you don’t like the price, you could try haggling down the price of your broadband.

Start by comparing prices of other networks, as detailed above, so that you have evidence to prove you can get a better deal elsewhere.

You’ll then need to get in contact with your current provider to tell them you’re not happy about the price you’re paying.

If you can get a cheaper deal elsewhere, make sure you tell them about it.

However, haggling isn’t a sure-fire way of lowering the price of your bill – but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

We’ve rounded up ten other ways to save money including car insurance payment holidays and Sky Sports refunds.

Here’s how to get help paying your energy bills if you are struggling.

It comes as households are spending more than £65million a month on gas and electricity during the coronavirus lockdown.