6 steps to take before cancelling broadband

The cost of broadband is sky-rocketing. If you're struggling to pay your bill, here are six things to do before cancelling.

Having a decent broadband connection is far from a luxury; most of us depend on one entirely.

Indeed, a study by Virgin Media O2 found that 98% of us rely on a broadband connection on a daily basis.

For those of us who work from home, it would be all but impossible to do so without being able to get online swiftly and easily.

Even for those who work elsewhere, chances are at least some element of their downtime at home will necessitate a broadband connection, from streaming services to online gaming.

The trouble is that it’s not cheap  – and the costs keep soaring.

Most of the major broadband providers have rolled out inflation-busting hikes of up to 8.8% this month.

If your latest bill has landed and you're genuinely wondering whether you can justify the cost, here are six things you could try before cancelling such a vital service.

Shop around for a cheaper deal

Shopping around is a crucial element of smart money management, across virtually every area of our finances.

The sad reality is that the best value deal won’t land in your lap ‒ you have to hunt them out yourself.

So before you abandon broadband entirely, be sure to compare the packages on offer in your area. It may be that moving to a rival provider delivers a comparable offering, but at a price that’s a little kinder on your household budget.

There is no shortage of broadband comparison services you can make use of here ‒ all you need to do is enter your postcode and you’ll be presented with a range of options.

Check out our guide to switching broadband deals and saving money.

Change your package

You don’t necessarily need to move providers in order to reduce the money spent on your broadband each month.

Instead, it may be worth adapting your package to better meet your needs, and cut your costs.

For example, do you really need those free minutes that are included with the calls element of the bundle? Could you reduce the size of the bill by opting for a deal that doesn’t include calls at all?

Finding other savings

If there are no more savings to made on your broadband, then it's time to review where else you are spending money. 

There may be other areas which you can cut out, before opting for the extreme move of disconnecting yourself.

Go through your bills and other regular expenditure to see if there are areas where savings can be made.

Check out our guide to saving money on absolutely all areas of spending. 

Get the help you are entitled to

Just as important as trimming the fat from your spending is ensuring that you are enjoying the biggest possible income.

That doesn’t just mean asking for a pay rise from your boss ‒ it’s also important to see if you are entitled to any financial help from the state.

A study by Policy in Practice a month ago found that a massive £19 billion is going unclaimed each year, which is an awful lot of money. 

Make sure you aren’t missing out on additional cash before dumping your internet connection.

Do you qualify for a social tariff?

Social tariffs are staggeringly poorly understood but could be a big money saver for millions of households.

These packages are available for households claiming certain benefits, like Universal Credit and Pension Credit.

They tend to cost around £10 to £20, and generally you get a really good service too, with many offering superfast connections.

An added selling point is that providers are not allowed to increase prices at all during the middle of the contract, unlike with a regular broadband tariff.

Ofcom research recently found that around half of low-income households are unaware of social tariffs, though they could save them around £200 a year. 

Just 5% of eligible households are on social tariffs.

For more, read our guide to social tariffs, and who offers them.

Speak to your broadband provider

Having a conversation with your provider is not necessarily something we all feel comfortable about, but it’s well worth doing.

If you explain that you cannot afford to continue at the current price point, they may be able to pick out a different deal that still meets your needs, but at a price you can afford.

It’s much the same when your provider announces a price increase ‒ calling them can mean they drop the price hike entirely.

It’s not just broadband

While broadband is obviously one service that some people are cutting currently, it’s certainly not the only one.

So before you do something drastic with some sort of important service, apply these six steps ‒ you may find that what seemed like an unaffordable proposition is actually manageable.