Broadband & TV

If you’re spending too much on your broadband and TV package

Speaking to your provider can be easy and hassle-free and it’s never been simpler to switch or change.

Don’t be worried about having this conversation – remember, if you’d rather not speak over the phone, most providers offer their services over Live Chat and some even use Facebook Messenger/WhatsApp too!

Start by heading over to your provider’s website to get the contact information you need, and then following these steps:

1. Spend a short amount of time researching what packages other providers offer so you can do a cost comparison using GoCompare – if you find something cheaper, ask your provider to match what you’ve seen
2. Make your provider aware that you’re keen to stay as a customer – they’ll want to keep you on board so can look into applying discounts and other help to reduce your payments
3. Check with your provider for broadband ‘social tariffs’ – if you’re on benefits, there are a number of deals to check out:
   • BT offers households on benefits a basic broadband and phone rental package at £15 per month and – for calls only – a 12-month contract for £10 per month – with no upfront costs
   • Sky is also offering existing customers a £20 monthly Broadband Basics package
   • NOW Broadband Basics is available for £20 monthly
   • Virgin Media Essential broadband is available for £15 a month. Essential broadband is a 30-day rolling contract, so whenever you’re ready to go back to your usual Virgin Media services, you can ask to switch back
   • There are lots of other broadband providers at a similar cost
4. Explain your situation to them – telling them that you want to make some savings due to a change in your circumstances, whatever this may be

Going forward, be sure to…

• Pop a note in your diary or on your calendar reminding you when your contract will be coming to an end – when this happens, you’ll automatically be rolled onto your provider’s standard prices (typically far more than you’ll pay for a promotional offer)
• Setting this reminder means that, before this happens, you can contact your provider and follow the steps above

Broadband Social Tariff

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has set up a new service which allows internet service providers to verify – with your permission – whether you’re in receipt of a relevant benefit and eligible for extra financial support.

Virgin Media O2 use the system to verify eligible customers signing up to their Essential Broadband tariff and they will waive early termination fees for those moving from existing tariffs.

All broadband providers are being asked to offer and promote social tariffs (discounted broadband and mobile deals for people on Universal Credit and other benefits).

Customers on social tariffs could save over £100 a year.

TV Licensing

The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel, watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV X, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go etc), download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer.

This applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

TV Licence costs

• Colour TV Licence – £159 per year
• Black and White TV Licence – £53.50 per year

The Government is responsible for setting the level of the licence fee and announced in January 2022 that the fee would remain £159 until April 2024 and will rise in line with inflation for the following four years.

Ways to pay

There are many ways to pay for a TV Licence including:

• Direct Debit – most popular method, which can be annually, quarterly or monthly
• In monthly, fortnightly and weekly instalments via Payment Card PayPoint/Cash payment
• The TVL Pay App using a credit or debit card. Search for ‘TVL Pay’ in the app store on your mobile and download for free
• Online via http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/using a credit or debit card
• Telephone using a credit or debit card on 0300 555 0286
• Cheque which can be posted

Simple Payment Plan

This is aimed at people who find it difficult to pay – it can work out at around £3 a week if customers stay on the plan. The benefits of the plan are you can spread the cost of the licence over 12 months (fortnightly or monthly), there’s no need to pay for licence in the first six months, you have the ability to spread arrears over monthly payments, and the ability to carry over (a limited amount of) arrears to next licence.

If you miss a payment, it can be spread across the remainder of the plan, instead of having to pay double next time, but the full amount agreed must be paid for payment to count. If you miss three months or six fortnightly consecutive payments, you’ll be terminated from the scheme. You may be invited to re-join, but your licence could be shortdated (which means the new licence expires 12 months from expiry date of previous licence, not from the sign-up date).

The scheme’s available to people referred through PayPlan or through a not-for-profit organisation such as a charity or a local authority money advice department, people who have previously held a licence which was recently cancelled within the last six months because of missed payment and people who have been interviewed under caution for TV licence fee evasion and so may face prosecution (they’ll need to keep up with their payments for a specified time to avoid prosecution).

If you need to keep on top of your subscriptions

Look out for offers

Sometimes providers offer extra perks for a limited time only i.e. cashback, vouchers, Netflix subscriptions, technology and gadgets. Some provides offer other bonus goodies all year round.

Can you switch providers?

If you’re no longer within the contract’s minimum terms, you’re free to switch without being charged a cancellation fee.

Many people find that switching to a different provider doesn’t just mean a cheaper package, but better connection speeds too! In most cases, switches can be implemented in as little as two weeks. Make sure you ask for a trial period when switching so you’re not locked in for months or even years.

The dangers of phantom subscriptions

Be mindful of your TV subscriptions – are there any you no longer need but you’re still paying for? Could you watch the same shows on another service you might already have?

Switching to an online TV subscription

Switching to an online subscription may give you more flexibility when it comes to cancelling and there are lots of introductory offers out there

Cut out monthly TV fees altogether

Check out Freeview or Freesat – and stop paying a monthly fee altogether for your TV package