With the large number of deals available in the UK, it's difficult to know which are the best plans. It's tempting to go to a comparison site, look for the cheapest price and choose that one. But even here, the comparisons aren't a true indication because all the providers aren't quoting on the same basis.
Some of the headline prices only last a few months and then change to the normal price, which is higher. Certain ones have additional set-up charges, long contracts and services that you may not need. It's common, for example, for suppliers to bundle in a phone deal, with the price being higher if you don't want it. Always look a little further than price when using comparing:
Price isn't everything and you need to look at how you use the internet and choose the deal that suits you best. If you spend a lot of time online, sharing photos, checking the social networking sites and downloading lots of music, you need unlimited downloads. If you're an online gamer and watch videos, speed is important. And if you're part of a household with several PCs, you'll need wireless so everyone can connect at the same time.
Comparison sites can be useful because sometimes you can set your usage preferences - heavy user, fast speeds, business user - and list only the relevant deals. Before you can make an informed selection, everything has to be compared - prices, speeds, limits and all the fine print of the terms and conditions.
A provider may offer packages so you can get broadband, TV and phone for one monthly fee, which might work out a lot cheaper than buying individually. You also need to be sure you're getting everything you need to run, including a modem or router. However, don't get carried away with extras that you don't need, such as trial versions of security tools if you're already covered. The trick is to focus on exactly what you need, run an internet compare to find what's available and then buy the package that offers what you want at the best overall price.
    
|
