Consumer Advice January 2010
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Have you got the
best broadband deal?
There are certainly lots of ISPs around - Internet Service
Providers - so how do you choose? It really depends on what you
want from the service and there are a number of factors you should
consider...
How you receive it
You can get broadband into your home via a phone line (ADSL), via
satellite with TV, by cable underground and on mobile 3G. See what
you can get using www.broadbandchecker.co.uk. Just type in your
postcode and phone number for the results.
Speed
Broadband is obviously a whole lot quicker than the old dial-up
service but there are different speeds available, measured in Mbps
- megabits per second or 'Meg'. Sometimes you won't be
able to receive the advertised speeds so there's no point
paying for them. Speed is dependent on the package you choose but
also, for ADSL, how far you are away from the telephone exhange.
Speed can be restricted however you receive broadband though
according to time of day and how many others are using the service.
Look on Broadband Checker (above) to see what speed you're
capable of receiving and look on http://www.top10-broadband.co.uk/ to see what
you're receiving now - and whether your neighbours are getting
a faster service!
Downloads
If you watch films, TV and videos or use your PC to play games,
you'll be downloading a lot from the Internet each month and
will want a bigger than average download allowance. Some, like O2
offer unlimited downloads so might be a good option - see, below.
Want to change?
There's no point moving from your current ISP until you've
come to the end of the contract you're in, as you'll have
to pay for the remaining months. When you've got two to four
weeks to go, contact your current supplier, ask for the MAC key
(Migration Authorisation Code) and give it to the ISP you're
switching to. Then make sure the Direct Debit for your old ISP is
cancelled.
Introductory deals
You'll find some really good deals with a low-cost - or free -
introductory period. But check the small print to see how much it
goes up to after this time. Also check how long the contract is for
and whether there's a connection fee and work out whether
it's still good value.
Phone too? There are lots of phone with broadband
bundles that work out cheaper than buying the two services
separately. Besides being beneficial to your pocket, it also means
one less company to deal with and one less bill to check. TalkTalk
Essentials offers up to 8mbps, has a large 40Mb download allowance
and includes UK weekend and evening calls. It's £6.49 a
month, £11.25 a month line rental, 18-month contract and
£29.99 connection fee - http://www.talktalk.co.uk/
The best deal
It's worth looking at a few comparison sites to see what's
available - Top 10 Broadband (above) is a good place to start. It
listed 02's Standard Home Broadband as a good choice. It gives
up to 8mbps and unlimited downloads. It's free for three months
then £7.34 a month for 02 customers and £12.23 for others
with £12.50 line rental to BT, a 12-month contract and free
connection - http://broadband.02.co.uk/
Is British Gas a
good move?
Q: I've recently heard about British Gas' new Energy Smart feature. What exactly is it and is it worth swapping to them for Energy Smart?
A: Energy Smart is a great idea as it puts an end to customers' main bug bear, estimated bills. Customers submit their meter readings online or by text each month so you pay only for what you've used rather than the big charges made for estimated usage - a technique used by most of the big energy suppliers. You'll also receive a free energy monitor (worth around £35), which can help you keep track of the electricity you're using.
The problem is that British Gas has only introduced this option for customers on the more expensive tariffs - so fine if you're on one of these. But if you're on one of its cheaper deals, you won't get Energy Smart so may be better off going for a cheaper discounted deal instead of this new option. It's another case of doing some comparisons to see which is the best for you.
Nectar's
faulty goods
Q: I swapped some of my Nectar points for a camera
but it's developed a fault. I can't find anything on the
site to help. What should I do?
A: Some of the terms and conditions on Nectar's site relate to products 'purchased' with Nectar points. The term that matters - and which the Office of Fair Trading says applies in all these loyalty point gift schemes - is that 'nothing in these terms and conditions affects your statutory rights'. So if a product develops a fault, especially within the first six months, you have every right to return it to the supplier - at their expense - and expect a repair, replacement or refund. After that how you've used it and normal wear and tear will be taken into consideration - have a look at http://whatconsumer.co.uk for more. And contact Nectar for help on 0844 811 0 811.
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