Don’t slip up on your new contract

•If you’re choosing a cheap or “free" broadband deal, take into account the quality of service you will be getting. Best value doesn’t always mean cheapest. So, when you are trying to find cheap broadband provider, look beyond the price and get a package that really suits you. Consider the customer service level, cost and opening hours of the call centre before making your choice.

•Check to see if the ISP has won any awards from the ISPA or PC magazines.

•Your new contract may also have a download limit, which may mean you end up paying more than your monthly rate for big downloads. Remember unlimited is not a reality; it’s better to pick a package with a clearly stated limit or be sure of what your “fair usage" policy allows.

•Make sure your ISP can connect in your area and find out what speed your line will actually hold. Connections get degraded the further they get from the BT exchange so you won’t get the advertised speed. Our speed tests show that, on average, customers only get 35 per cent of their promised speed.

Wise up

•Don’t be afraid to ask for a better deal, in a competitive market ISP’s should be working harder to keep you as a customer; providers offer special promotions for new customers, so if you are at the end of your contract you can ask for the same.

•If you’re not sure how much you actually download, why not use a download monitor to track your Internet use? www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/broadband-download-monitor.html It’s quick to install and is easy to use, and you can even set alarms to stop you going over your limit. And if you’re not downloading much you may find you’re actually on the wrong package and could opt for a cheaper alternative.

If you are experiencing problems and want to switch your

•broadband provider but are having trouble doing so, make sure that you keep a log of all communications you have with your ISP and write to Otelo (the telecommunications ombudsman) once you have exhausted the complaints procedure offered by your provider.

•Many ISPs also offer free add-ons such as anti virus software, parental controls and spam guards which can be worth more than £40.

Making the Broadband Switch

•If you’re choosing a cheap broadband deal, take into account the quality of service you will be getting. Best value doesn’t always mean cheapest. Look beyond the price and get a package that really suits you. Consider the customer service level, cost and opening hours of the call centre before making your choice.

•Check to see if the ISP has won any awards from the ISPA or PC magazines.

•Your new contract may also have a download limit, which may mean you end up paying more than your monthly rate for big downloads. Remember unlimited is not a reality; it’s better to pick a package with a clearly stated limit or be sure of what your “fair usage" policy allows.

•Make sure your ISP can connect in your area and find out what speed your line will actually hold. Connections get degraded the further they get from the BT exchange so you won’t get the advertised speed. Our speed tests show that, on average, customers only get 35 per cent of their promised speed.