Broadband – Switch or Haggle?
Broadband adverts are plastered everywhere. Wherever you look, there are tempting deals offering better rates and quicker speed. Unfortunately, loyalty is rarely rewarded. When you’ve been with a provider for a certain length of time, the prices start going up as the offer comes to an end and the better discounts are used to entice new customers.
At this point you’ve two choices. You can ditch your provider and enjoy all the benefits of being someone else’s new customer. Or, if you’re happy with what you’ve got and don’t want all the hassle, you can haggle.
What’s it going to be?
Haggle – the very word makes a lot of people uneasy. It’s not something we tend to do unless we’re in a foreign country being persuaded to buy a fake handbag.
Switch – you could get cheaper monthly bills and free extra services.
Haggle – your current provider should know you’re unhappy and be given the opportunity to put things right.
Switch – there could be the chance of an extended deal or money-off upgrade.
Haggle – no need to faff around cancelling old direct debits and setting up new ones.
Switch – what about an attractive discounted bundle on TV, landline and mobile?
Haggle – the grass isn’t always greener, and you might regret it.
Switch – vouchers, gift cards – what’s stopping you?
Haggle – if your provider is offering cheap prices to new customers, why aren’t they offering them to you? That’s a tough one for their customer service department to answer.
Switch – download speeds would take you off the hard shoulder and put you in the fast lane.
Haggle – research proves that those customers with a combined TV and broadband package saved an average of £216 a year by haggling.
Switch – If you’re haggling hasn’t gone to plan and there is no better deal forthcoming, why stick with that provider? Time to jump ship.
Haggle – More than 80% of broadband customers who haggled with their current provider were offered a discount, incentive or better deal according to Which?
Looking at both sides of the argument, the best way forward would be to prepare your argument, get your ducks lined up, argue the toss with your current provider and, if they won’t budge or even nudge, change provider as quickly as possible. If they’re not loyal, there’s no reason why you should be.
