Monthly bills can quickly add up. Between home payments, utilities, and phone bills, the last thing you want to do is pay too much money for cable and Internet. It can be easy to lock into a contract and unknowingly end up spending more money than you expected for these services.
There are ways you can save money, despite providers and their convincing sale tactics. By taking the time to learn about your options, you can find better cable and Internet. Plus, find a provider with honest customer service.
corund / ShutterstockIf you want to save money on cable and internet, here are the actions you should take.
Compare Different Service Providers
The market for cable and internet is a competitive one. Each company wants to gain as many customers as they can while getting paid the most money they can. If you’re looking to lower your monthly costs, comparing different providers is the best way to do that.
It can be really easy to simply renew with your current provider once the contract expires. But by doing this, you could be doing yourself a disservice – and you could wind up with an automatic price increase. In fact, customers could be saving as much as £100 per year by seeking better deals their current provider isn’t advertising to customers.1
Since most companies bundle TV and internet together, customers pay an average of £30.30 per month.2 Those who are paying more might be unnecessarily paying for services they don’t need, such as extra channels or highest speed broadband. You could end up paying less money by simply cutting the services that aren’t necessary for your lifestyle.
If you’re happy with your current service, contact your cable company and see if they can offer you any deals. They don’t want to risk losing you as a customer, so they could come up with an offer worth taking them up on.
That being said, you should also make sure you aren’t being roped into a new contract before exploring what other providers have to offer. Salespeople are trained to lock down customers, so be aware of that before picking up the phone.
You should compare the customer reviews and services from different service providers. Prices are important. However, you might realize later on that cheaper deals are not worth the hassle of slow Internet speed and poor customer service. Reading reviews can give you a hint of what you would deal with as a customer, and confirm whether or not the money you’re paying for their services makes sense.
The Benefits of Comparison Shopping
By taking the time to compare all your options, you could end up with significant savings in your pocket on a monthly basis. See what introductory offers are available to you and which one makes the most sense for your household.
Saving money isn’t the only perk to comparison shopping. Since you would be carefully analysing each service provider, you would also be learning about the quality of their service. This will give you good intel into what your experience as a customer would be with them.
When you’re scouring the Internet for deals, some other important things to look for in a cable and Internet provider are:
- Prices after an introductory offer expire;
- The length of contracts;
- Possible fees if you wanted to cancel your contract;
- “Hidden” costs that make installation or payments more expensive, and/or;
- Possible caps or limits on bandwidth.
Getting familiar with everything a company has to offer will help you make an informed decision regarding which one you should sign a contract with. This will also give you a chance to understand which qualities are most important to you as a customer. If you notice a company’s bandwidth isn’t high enough to meet your daily needs, you’ll know they’re cheap introductory package is not worth it.
Many companies will not disclose their extra fees, limits, and contract times because they only want to give you all the good reasons to sign with them. Make yourself aware of the good and the bad, that way you won’t be surprised later on.
How to Compare Provider Rates
Finding a cheaper cable and Internet bill is as simple as doing your research. To compare different companies, you have to know where to start.
There are websites such as uSwitch, ISP Review, and Broadband Choices that can compare various providers for you and inform you of the latest deals. Websites like these earn commission if someone purchases through their link, so be sure to check out multiple sites and compare each source.
After doing a broad comparison, then look at specific provider websites to learn more specifics. You can always give the companies a phone call and ask a representative any questions to see if there’s anything they can do for you in a deal. Try and compare at least three to four companies before settling on a contract for your cable and Internet.
Keep in mind of the smaller companies that might exist in your area rather than solely focusing on the big ones. You might be able to find a better rate and improved service since it’s a local corporation. As long as you do your research and take notes, you should be able to find yourself cheaper service.