We all know bundles are a good way to save money on the cost of broadband, digital TV, and home phone, but are you getting the best deal on yours?
With the cost of broadband having risen for the first time in five years, now is a good time to consider a package that bundles together broadband, home phone, digital TV – and even your mobile phone – as these tend to offer better value for money.
Reversing the recent trend of falling prices, new figures from Broadbandchoices.co.uk show the cost of the 10 cheapest standalone broadband packages has gone up by 11 per cent to £126.49 for the first year of a deal.
This comes at a time when both the VAT hike and the effects of inflation, are hitting households hard.
If you are looking to cut costs, you’re very likely to be able to make substantial monthly savings by going for an all-inclusive package, with the added benefit of only having one bill to pay each month.
How much can you save?
Typically, the more you bundle, the more you benefit, with savings of more than £300 a year up for grabs if you switch your broadband, digital TV and home phone to the same supplier.
Better still, a price war among broadband and home phone providers is driving package costs even lower but you do need to move quickly, as many deals are only available for a limited period.
For example, Primus Saver is offering its Phone and Broadband Saver deal for £2.99 a month, plus line rental at £12.79 a month.
Tesco is offering its Broadband, Evening and Weekend Calls package free for four months, rising to £8 per month thereafter, plus line rental at £11.75 per month.
For Orange mobile customers, Orange is offering three months free on its Broadband & Off-Peak Calls package, rising to £7.50 per month thereafter, plus line rental at £11.50 per month. This package also includes a Free HP printer.
Elsewhere, Plusnet is offering its Value – Talk Evening and Weekend package from £6.49 per month plus line rental at £11.99 per month. Similarly TalkTalk’s Essentials – Broadband & Phone package is £6.50 per month plus line rental at £12.60 per month. (*)
As well as the mobile phone companies, it’s also worth checking out the deals available from the providers who offer digital TV alongside broadband and phone, such as Sky, BT and Virgin Media.
Choosing a deal
With so many bundles deals to choose from, it can feel a little confusing finding the right one for you. The key is to do your research – remembering that the best deals are invariably online.
Before switching to a new provider, decide what calls package you would like, and how much TV and broadband you need.
If, for example, you spend a lot of time using BBC iPlayer or downloading music and film, you will need a package offering at least 20GB, but if you just email and surf the net, you’ll need less than this.
Also take into consideration when you make most calls on your home phone, as there’s no point opting for a deal which gives you free weekend calls if you mainly use your phone in the week.
Tailor packages to suit your needs
Further, given that there’s such a wide choice of different combinations of TV channels, you need to ensure you’re signing up for the ones you want.
If you’re looking at a deal with an introductory offer, make sure you know the full price after that period ends.
Equally, check out the customer service and find out where your provider’s call centre is based, and how much it will cost you to call if you need help.
Is a bundle right for you?
Suppliers may be keen to push bundled deals as they make more cash if customers sign up to more services, but you need to work out whether a packaged deal really is the best option for you.
After all, there’s no point signing up to a bundle unless you’re going to make use of all the services offered.
Even if you decide to keep all your services separate, it’s still just as important to shop around to ensure you’re getting the best deal for each one.
* Prices correct as at 13/6/11, source Broadbandchoices.co.uk
