The 7 Magic Questions You Should Always Ask Yourself About Any Broadband Deal

Hidden amongst the apparent mishmash of broadband adverts, offers and deals are some excellent bargains to be had, the problem is just how to sift the wheat from the chaff.

To get it right first time, just make sure you ask the right questions before taking any deal:

1. Can I get this broadband deal where I live?

Upfront, remember that not all broadband deals are available to every address in the UK. A number of providers have their own equipment set up in different exchanges around the UK and this enables them to offer cheap broadband deals to customers - but this may not include you!

So how do you find out?

Fortunately you can enter your phone number and/or postcode into a postcode checker on a broadband comparison site which will sieve out the deals that are definitely available in your area.

Alternatively, a simple postcode check on the broadband provider' own website will soon tell you if you are eligible or not.

2. Will I have to switch telephone providers to take the deal?

A number of broadband providers presently offer a deal where their own phone service is 'bundled' in tandem with their broadband offering. This means that you have to switch your line rental - and/or your call provider - from BT to the new provider.

PlusNet, TalkTalk and Tiscali are broadband providers offering such deals and are well worth considering, since these deals are in most cases more economical than having to pay line rental to BT.

3. Is the price being distorted by an introductory price offer?

This is an important point to consider as a number of broadband deals appear very tempting to start with until you look at the full picture. Remember the old warning? Let the buyer beware!

BT Total Broadband, for example, offers a deal of £7.95 a month that at first glance seems a bargain until you realise it is only for the first 3 months, after which the price doubles to £15.99 a month for the remaining 15 months of the contract.

4. How many months will you be tied to the provider by a contract?

Most bargain offers tie you down to an 18 or 24 month contract, though genuine broadband deals will give you the best value for money.

It's a good idea to choose a shorter contract if you prefer to switch broadband deals every year or if you are likely to be out of the country for a spell.

5. Am I going to have to pay connection charges or activation fees?

This one is quite simple, but make sure you first read the small print carefully to pick up any hidden setup expenses.

As a general rule, broadband packages with no contract almost always require setup costs, typically in the region of £40 - £50.

Virtually all broadband deals will give you free setup, provided that you sign up for a year.

6. Will I be able to download as much as I want to?

A favourite ploy of some broadband providers is to limit bandwidth at busy periods because this keeps their costs down.

So it's pretty important that you read through the 'fair and acceptable use policy' of your selected broadband deal to check that there are no harsh restrictions on peak time usage.

Sky Broadband has recently become the first UK broadband provider ever to totally drop its fair use policy, allowing users to download as much as they want, whenever they want.

7. Will I have to pay over the odds for customer support?

Low-priced broadband deals, in particular the very cheapest, quite often make use of premium rate numbers for customer or technical support lines, which sort of detracts a bit from what you thought was a bargain deal.

Fortunately, these are becoming few and far between and even some of the cheapest broadband deals now offer entirely free telephone support.

So, armed with the above information, you should be able to make an informed and accurate choice of broadband provider. Good luck!