The broadband market is a competitive one, and providers are battling it out with discounts and special offers. Set-up costs are now a standard part of any broadband or bundle deal, but with prices fluctuating, it can be easy to feel like you’re being ripped off – Confused.com’s Lois Avery has some advice to help bag a bargain.
If you’ve ever tried to set up a broadband service, then you’ll probably agree it can be a hard bargain to nail down.
You may see an advert promising high-speed wireless internet for a fiver, but the reality is that the price advertised is seldom the price you pay.
That’s because of all the add-ons. Yes, they will send someone round to set it up meaning less hassle for you but it’ll also cost you. But it seems the amount you pay also depends on how much you negotiate and it seems there’s no fixed answer for this.
Here’s what you need to watch out for
Installation fees vary so wildly that some customers can end up paying up to £100 as a one-off fee just for an engineer to pop over and plug in a box, but others seem to be able to wriggle out of paying these fees at all. The fees vary even more if you’re installing a bundle service – TV, internet and telephone.
I was recently quoted £100 for installing a new broadband service because we needed an engineer to install it. But after contesting the charge, it was significantly reduced. My grandmother, however, wasn’t quite as savvy and paid in full.
Doesn’t seem quite fair does it? But unfortunately, the more competitive the broadband market becomes the more we are going to have to brush up on our haggling skills, especially after a recent study showed that broadband is one luxury Brits would be loathe to give up, regardless of financial hardship.
According to Virgin, none of their installation fees are set in stone and start from £40. “Service advisors can, at their discretion, match online offers on a case by case basis if they feel that this is appropriate for the customer, a spokesperson for the company confirmed to me.
So it seems, in this case, brushing up on your bargaining skills might save you a lot of money.
Comparing other suppliers
If you compare broadband suppliers, you’ll see huge differences in their charges. SKY’s charges vary from package to package and can cost up to £60 for installation. Discounts are available for existing Sky customer’s switching who are a service, and online customers have access to special offers.
BT’s standard installation fee is £89.99 but a weekend visit from an engineer will cost £20 extra. Again, discounts are available.
The problem is that Ofcom – the communications regulator - has no say in what broadband providers charge when it comes to installation costs. A spokesman said: “It’s a competitive market so providers manage their own deals at a customer level – it’s not something we regulate.”
So, whilst it seems there are no rules in place to make the market fair for all customers, here are some tips on how to keep these fickle costs down.
Refuse to pay
It might seem like an odd bargaining tactic but start by telling the sales advisor that you can’t afford it. Even if you’re not offered the installation free of charge it will open up the bargaining.
Haggle
Be brave enough to ask for a discount or a special deal and know when to walk away. If they want your custom then chances are you’ll be offered a special rate. If they don’t, say ‘no thanks’ and try elsewhere. Alternatively, if you’re keen to stay with a certain provider but the discounts aren’t on offer then ask for some extras, like additional channels, or a new router to be thrown in for free.
Do your research
If your mobile phone provider or insurance company offered you a deal and you’d found it cheaper elsewhere then you’d probably ask them to match it. The same should apply for broadband. Get a list of competitor’s prices to back up your bargaining.
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