Mobile, TV and broadband package customers urged by Which? to haggle and switch

The consumer group found that people had saved significant sums when switching providers, but some had not attempted to haggle or switch.

Vicky Shaw
Friday 06 January 2023 19:01 EST
Squeezed households are being urged by Which? to get ahead of any upcoming price hikes to TV, broadband and mobile packages by haggling and switching (Tim Goode/PA)
Squeezed households are being urged by Which? to get ahead of any upcoming price hikes to TV, broadband and mobile packages by haggling and switching (Tim Goode/PA) (PA Archive)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Squeezed households are being urged by Which? to get ahead of any upcoming price hikes to TV, broadband and mobile packages by haggling and switching.

The consumer group asked more than 5,100 people whose broadband, TV and broadband and/or mobile phone contract had ended in the previous 12 months whether they had haggled or switched and how much money they had saved.

It found that, on average, TV and broadband customers saved £162 by switching away.

Customers who did not switch but took the time to haggle with their broadband and TV provider saved an average of £90 a year, according to the survey findings.

There were also big savings to be had for broadband-only customers who switched, with the average being £92.

Broadband customers who haggled saved £43 typically.

When Which? spoke to mobile customers whose contracts had ended in the past 12 months it found that customers saved an average of £95 by switching and £62 by haggling.

The survey also revealed that just over a fifth (21%) of broadband customers and around one in six (16%) TV and broadband customers did nothing when their contract ended.

Mobile customers were even less likely to take action with a quarter (24%) of those surveyed telling Which? they had not switched or attempted to haggle.

Which? recently launched a campaign calling on businesses in essential sectors: supermarkets, telecoms and energy, to do more to help their customers through the cost-of-living crisis.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in