Switching can slash broadband, pay TV and mobile bills by up to £187

While eye-watering prices hikes of up to 10 per cent are predicted for some mobile, TV and broadband firms this April, our latest research finds that customers could save up to £187 a year by switching providers ahead of rises taking effect.

We asked nearly 5,000 customers whose broadband, combined broadband and TV or mobile phone contract had recently ended whether they had switched or haggled, and how much they had saved on their bills in the process.

It showed that compelling savings are available - in particular for those willing to switch. And, given the financial pressures many have been feeling over the last year, any saving will be welcomed. But we'd still like to see much more from telecoms providers - we're calling for them to cancel the price hikes many have planned for spring.

We're demanding big broadband and mobile phone providers drop hikes buried in the terms and conditions. Agree? Sign the petition.

Switch providers and save

A striking finding from our research is that switching providers really has emerged as a key way to save money - particularly for broadband and pay TV customers. On average, TV and broadband customers could save £154 per year by switching, however customers who departed Virgin Media saved £187 a year on average by switching away for a better deal.

The average broadband customer could save £98 per year by switching to a new provider, but higher than average savings were achieved by customers of several providers:

• Those who ditched Sky for a new broadband provider saved an average of £126 per year.
• Customers who left Virgin Media saved an average of £123 per year .
• People who switched away from BT's broadband service saved an average of £119 per year.

The average mobile customer saved slightly less by switching than by haggling though there was less of a marked difference than we found for broadband and pay TV - here substantial savings are available whether you switch or haggle. The average mobile customer could save £65 per year by switching, but this rose to:

• An average of £73 per year for customers switching away from Three.
• An average of £83 per year for those departing O2.
• An average of £102 per year for people who left Vodafone.
• An impressive average of £128 per year for customers who ditched EE's network for a new provider.

In all three categories we looked at, the majority of customers surveyed who had switched providers said they had found the process easy. The proportion was lowest for TV and broadband, probably because this is the most complex of the three categories with multiple elements to weigh up – but even in this instance, more than half of switchers said that they had breezed through the process. Meanwhile, just over three-quarters of mobile switchers said they had found it easy.

Ready to get started? Enter your postcode below to see how much you could save - we detail potential price rises on any relevant deals, so you know what you're getting into. 

Need more help before you switch? You can also read our guides on how to switch broadband provider and how to switch mobile provider. 

Don't want to switch? Haggle

Not everyone will be enthusiastic about the prospect of changing provider, particularly if you have received excellent service, aren't sure about the alternatives available or don't see a depth of choice available in your area.

Luckily, haggling is still an excellent way to get a better deal, even if the savings don't always look as impressive as for switching. Once again, our research shows that it's possible to make bigger than average savings with certain providers. 

• The average broadband customer saved £29 per year by haggling, but the average Sky customer saved £55, while Virgin Media customers saved an average of £57.
• The average mobile customer saved £70 per year by haggling, but this was bested by an average of £91 for Vodafone customers and £105 for EE customers.
• The overall average saving for TV and broadband customers was £111 per year.

Keep in mind that those who haggle may end up paying the same amount (or possibly even a little more) with this still being a success. Haggling is an opportunity to discuss the elements of your deal and upgrade or downgrade if the package doesn't quite fit your needs.

Negotiation is also both expected and invited by providers. Your haggling power will be greatest when you have the right to switch away. Most people do it via a phone call but you can also try live chat or email if you prefer.  Get started using our guide on how to haggle for the best broadband deal to discover the simple steps it takes to negotiate a better price.

Which? is calling on telecoms providers to cancel this year's price hikes

Our research comes just as Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, has proposed a ban on inflation-linked mid-contract price rises. However, given the ban will not come into force in time for the price hikes anticipated in spring, we're calling on telecoms providers to stop this practice immediately and cancel any unfair price hikes planned for this April. 

Unfortunately, many customers who are tied into contracts that impose these unpredictable mid-contract price rises do not have the opportunity to switch without incurring a significant penalty. Which? believes all telecoms firms must put an end to this practice.

If you’re switching to or haggling with a provider that puts prices up every year, keep in mind that committing to a new fixed-term deal could mean agreeing to unavoidable inflation-linked price rises in future. Use our broadband comparison service, where we indicate if a deal you're interested in could face a price hike.

Another option is to choose a provider that already protects customers against inflation by committing to keep customers’ prices the same for the duration of their contract, such as Hyperoptic, Utility Warehouse or Zen Internet - or rolling one-month Sim-only contracts that aren't impacted by price rises like those offered by GiffGaff, Lebara, Smarty and Voxi.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “Our latest research shows out-of-contract broadband, TV and mobile customers can save a significant amount of money by switching or haggling with their current provider, a great way to save money at the start of the new year. 

“Many consumers may still face price hikes this spring. It would be outrageous if providers were to cash in on unfair mid-contract price rises before new Ofcom rules calling time on them come into effect. Telecoms firms must do the right thing by their customers and stop these practices immediately.”

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