Broadband switch for 1 million users

 

• Not switching supplier could cost customers over £40 million¹
• Apathy could leave customers paying for unnecessary connection speeds
• Costs amongst suppliers may vary by up to £456² per year

2005 was a phenomenal year for Broadband in the UK, with an estimated 9.8 million households connected to the internet via Broadband.³ At least 1 million consumers⁴ signed up to Broadband in the first three months of 2005 – nearly all of whom will now have a contract coming up for renewal. As suppliers have developed and improved packages to the point where speeds have trebled and prices have halved, independent comparison and switching service uSwitch.com is now urging consumers to review their needs and look into what new deals are available.

Jon Miller, Director at independent comparison and switching service uSwitch.com comments: "These 1 million Broadband users will have a good idea what they have been using their internet connection for until now, and how they are likely to use it over the next 12 months. Suppliers, on the other hand, are unlikely to take into account their customers’ usage requirements, or to alert them when they approach the end of their 12 month contract. Instead, they may opt to upgrade them automatically to a faster service for the same monthly fee. uSwitch.com advises customers to ensure that they are only paying for what they need.

Miller concludes: "There are two main areas where consumers should be looking to save money, Firstly, they should ensure that they are only paying for the connection speed that they need, as this can save them up to £180 per year, and secondly that they are with the cheapest supplier for their chosen connection. Customers can visit uSwitch and use the broadband calculator to work out the most suitable connection speed for their requirements and the best available deals, as costs can vary by up to £456 a year between suppliers."