| ARE you dazzled witless by the wide array of choice | | | | These freebies are not to be sneezed at! |
| in broadband? If you are, you are not alone as | | | | 4. Speed |
| broadband providers are conjuring up every inviting | | | | Does your current slow or inconsistent download |
| incentive to attract you, the potential customer, to their | | | | speed have you reaching for a tranquiliser in |
| own special exciting deals. | | | | frustration? |
| In view of the bewildering number of options available | | | | Sometimes one feels as if paint would dry quicker |
| and to assist you make that important choice more | | | | than watching that irritating little hour glass hanging and |
| easily and avoid further confusion, we can give you 8 | | | | hanging and... |
| excellent reasons for comparing broadband packages | | | | Why pay for a broadband that is meant to move with |
| (we couldn't think of 9 and 7 seemed too few). | | | | the speed of a hare but you later discover has the |
| 1. Limited or Unlimited Download | | | | speed of a tortoise (and a slow one at that). |
| An important point to remember is that some | | | | By first comparing broadband offers, you can |
| broadband packages have a download limit which can | | | | thoroughly examine each package and select one with |
| be very restrictive if you need to do a great deal of | | | | the speed that is most suitable for your requirements. |
| downloading. | | | | 5. Choice of Contract |
| It is wise to make a few comparisons first to find out | | | | You might be pleasantly surprised on comparing |
| the monthly limit on downloads before you buy, though | | | | broadband to discover the wide choice of packages |
| a limit isn't inevitably a bad thing - except when you | | | | available offering a variety of contract types, and |
| have to pay for exceeding the limit! | | | | indeed in some cases, no contract at all. |
| However, if you only use the internet for surfing the | | | | No longer are you tied to an automatic 12-month |
| net occasionally or keeping up-to-date socially, for | | | | contract. |
| instance, why pay more than you need for unlimited | | | | For instance, the UK's fastest broadband provider Be* |
| use? | | | | offers a package with absolutely no contract |
| For anyone who is a limited user, by comparing | | | | necessary at all, though they do request a 3-month |
| broadband offers you will find an excellent and | | | | notification period should you wish to change providers. |
| exceptionally reasonable choice is TalkTalk Free | | | | Another fast broadband provider offering packages |
| Broadband (together with Talk Evenings & | | | | on a no-contract basis is Plusnet. |
| Weekends) package, which offers an astounding | | | | However, they stipulate that the wireless router has to |
| 40GB limit for a little less than £6 a month. | | | | be paid for, and also, should you pull out before 12 |
| This should please even the most avid YouTube user. | | | | months is up, you will have to pay a £40 fee. |
| 2. Possible Hidden Charges | | | | All the more reason for you to do your homework |
| Some broadband providers do not advertise all their | | | | thoroughly before committing yourself and just imagine |
| charges at the outset and you might find you are | | | | what you could do with that money! |
| required to fork out unexpected additional charges | | | | 6. Will you get what you are promised? |
| before you even get to first base with your new | | | | Which broadband providers can you trust to stick to |
| package. | | | | their advertised deals? |
| How irritating is that? | | | | With so many tempting bargains being bandied about, |
| Some frequently disguised broadband charges might | | | | all offering first class reliability and astonishing speeds, it |
| include items such as their line rental, the installation fee | | | | can be really difficult to make a sound decision. |
| or the cost of your modem/router. So fore warned is | | | | One broadband deal being highly recommended by |
| fore armed! | | | | their customers right now is O2 Broadband's stunning |
| On the other hand, some providers like Tiscali's | | | | deal not only for their mobile customers but now also |
| Broadband and Talk include the line rental in their | | | | for non-O2 mobile customers. |
| packages, which means no nasty surprises to pay at | | | | 7. Best bundle deals |
| the end of the month. What bliss in these expensive | | | | If you are prepared to bundle your broadband, TV and |
| times. | | | | mobile within one provider, there are some astounding |
| 3. Make the most of any Free Offers | | | | bargains on offer at the moment which can save you |
| Don't we all love a freebie! | | | | a lot of money. |
| It pays you hands down to compare broadband, as | | | | One service you may well have heard about is the |
| you are then unlikely to miss out on which providers | | | | Sky See, Speak & Surf Base 1 broadband bundle |
| are currently offering their customers all those | | | | for just £17 a month, which is excellent value. |
| attractive little free extras and whether or not they are | | | | To discover the best broadband bundle deals, it is a |
| available for the entire duration of the contract. | | | | good idea to also compare broadband, TV and mobile |
| A provider such as BT Total Option 2, for instance, | | | | packages individually. |
| offers trendy Norton Security, which will efficiently fight | | | | 8. Thinking ahead |
| off all unwelcome invaders. | | | | If you have only recently joined your present |
| Others may offer a free firewall, a welcome bit of | | | | broadband provider, it might be worth looking ahead a |
| hardware or even free webspace. | | | | bit. |
| The most exciting freebie on offer at the moment is | | | | For instance, you may have been caught out by a |
| from AOL, who is currently providing a FREE HP | | | | broadband provider who offered you a tempting |
| Compaq laptop or free Sony PlayStation 3 as part of | | | | rebate during your first 6 months, only to find it then fell |
| their package. | | | | away leaving you very much the poorer. |
| Our contact at AOL tells us that the free laptop offer | | | | Good luck in your search for the best broadband deal |
| is for a limited time only, ending in a couple of months. | | | | to meet your special needs. |