A consumer champion journalist has revealed the painstaking process of haggling for a better broadband deal with one of the UK’s biggest providers.

Chris Harper, who writes money-saving advice for leading online news outlets, knocked £13 off his broadband bill. But it wasn’t a smooth or pleasant experience.

Here’s his story:

“I’ve been a loyal customer with this company for years, but with the inflation-linked increase, I’d be paying a staggering £43 a month.”

So Chris contacted the provider, which is one of the biggest names in the UK broadband industry.

“I spoke to a lovely Scottish man,” continued Chris. “I told him about the competitor’s prices and asked if they could offer me a cheaper rate.”

The lovely Scottish man said no; Chris was locked into a deal. There was nothing he could do

“I’d been warned about this sneaky tactic on Twitter,” said Chris. “So I told the advisor my only option was to walk away.”

That did the trick. 

“All of a sudden, there was another way I could get a cheaper bill…!” said Chris. 

Chris spent the rest of the hour-long call being transferred between departments, waiting on hold, and explaining his situation all over again. But he eventually got the better deal he was looking for, cutting his bill from £43 per month to just £29.99 per month.

Brilliant, thought Chris.

Then this happened

“They said I’d have to send back my old router, only for them to send me the same one back!” said Chris. “Then I’d have to change my WiFi password and set up all my devices again.”

For Chris, reducing his bill was a minor inconvenience. But the experience made him realise that many others might be reluctant to negotiate with broadband providers.

“People could be either too scared or not confident enough to ring up these companies and ask for a better deal,” wrote Chris. “There were lots of ridiculous hoops I had to jump through. Elderly people or those who aren’t tech-savvy could find it intimidating, resulting in them not even bothering and being forced to pay hundreds more on their bills.”

Things like this don’t happen when you’re a 6G Internet customer. Our customers never have to call up and haggle over mid-contract price rises, because we never raise their bills mid-contract.

And when you do make the 6G Internet switch, we visit your home, set up a brand-new router, and make sure all your devices are connected and running smoothly.

6G Internet: fair prices, no mid-contract surprises, and real customer service.

Popular money-saving expert Martin Lewis is advising broadband customers to haggle for better deals when their bills go up this spring.

Money Saving Expert Warns Consumers About Broadband Price Increases

The consumer champion has previously warned people to expect a  15% increase in their broadband bills from April, explaining how big providers keep their tariffs in line with the consumer price index (CPI) rate of inflation. Inflation is currently around 11%, and Lewis believes firms will add an extra 4% on top.

April Broadband Price Increases

“This usually happens in April for most of the major broadband providers, which will be another hit for many people,” said Lewis. “If you’re paying £40, you should get ready to see another £6 on your bill from April.”

Lewis urges consumers to call their provider and haggle for a better deal. A poll on the MoneySavingExpert site found that 8 out of 10 customers can reduce their bill by calling their provider and suggesting they might go elsewhere.

“As a loyal customer, the first thing I would do is get on the phone and say: I’ve seen what you’re charging new customers; what can you do for me?” said Lewis.

“I’d make sure you’ve seen what other providers are charging in your area, because it’s postcode dependent… and say, ‘I’m not willing to pay that amount; can you offer me a better deal?’

If the provider isn’t willing to budge on price, then Lewis advises people to switch.

“Switching isn’t complicated, so don’t worry about it too much,” said Lewis. “It’s your new firm who sorts it out for you, and they’ll cancel your old provider.”

If you’re one of those people ready for something better, then contact  6G Internet today. We’ll make sure the switchover is as smooth as possible.

And with our no-price rise promise, your broadband bill will never go up during the contract.

6G Internet: a broadband company that keeps its promises.

Switching to a provider with a no-price promise is one of the best ways to avoid higher broadband bills during 2023, according to a leading consumer watchdog.

In its annual report on how to save money on broadband bills, Which? advises consumers to stay away from new deals with mainstream broadband firms, as they are far more likely to raise prices this year.

“When we looked at the average amounts affected customers could pay, we found that this year’s price increase would add as much as £55 to the average customer’s annual broadband bill,” writes Which? “Switching away or picking a provider with a fixed price will mean you get to swerve that extra cost.”

Which? looked at several more ways customers can reduce their broadband bills this year.

They include ditching the landline, which could save up to £20 a month and taking advantage of any refer-a-friend offers, which may equal an annual saving of £50 or more.

Which? also told consumers to look for special introductory and New Year deals.

“Given that many household budgets are already being squeezed, it’s become even more important to ensure that consumers get the most out of any broadband deal,” reads the Which? report. “Reducing the cost of your connection doesn’t have to be tricky: there are simple actions anyone can take to ensure they’re not paying over the odds.”

6G Internet provides everything customers need to keep bills affordable during the next 12 months. We never raise bills mid-contract, have loads of great offers and our customers are not forced to pay for a landline or line rental.

Check the best broadband offers in your area right now.