With more and more of our lives now being spent online it’s important to make sure that you have the right tools for the job. And, after the computer, this means getting the right broadband deal for yourself.
With so many offers flying around and seemingly enticing prices to boot, it can be a difficult task of sifting through them and working out what is the best deal for you. So below are some pointers to help send you off in the right direction!
Getting connected
Firstly you need to decide what kind of connection you want. Are you a casual user, just interested in keeping up to date with cousins on the other side of the world? Or are you an avid downloader of the latest films and music? If so, you need to get the package that suits your needs. Prices for packages are decided by gigabites used (GB) and the speed of your connection- by megabites (Mb).
For example, to watch four hours or so of good quality tv, you will need about 2GB per month… any more and you will probably have to pay per GB added… However, this would be enough GB for the casual user.
As per normal, it pays to shop around. Changes can be made relatively and efficiently from one provider to another, yet you may have to sign up for a length of time before being allowed to change. This is usually for a year but make sure you know what you are signing for before you purchase- in a frantic and fast changing environment like broadband supply, enticing offers are never far away… and you could save some good money in changing provider, or at least keeping your current one on its toes with regular checks of your price plan and offerings.
Download speeds are a frequent gripe for consumers, and unfortunately much is down to your distance from the BT exchange and the usage in your street that restricts flow. Make sure you check before you buy about the situation in your area as broadband coverage and speeds changes from area to area. Call the Internet Service Provider to find out what speeds it can offer in your area before buying- there is no point in an 8Mb connection if you can only receive 3Mb for example.
Other costs include set up fees, line rental each month and hidden charges (for example for exceeding monthly GB usage). Using a wireless negates the rental cost and can be bought from “3”, Orange, 02 and more…
Finally, check one of the price comparison websites that lists all the major providers and their respective deals.
www.broadbandchoices.co.uk
www.moneysupermarket.com/broadband
Any major problems, go to: www.ofcom.org.uk