Printed from www.pcpro.co.uk
Britons too lazy to switch ISPs
Posted on 18 Aug 2009 at 12:51
UK surfers are missing out on potentially huge savings by not bothering to change broadband suppliers or bundle their electronic services into one package, according to research from moneysupermarket.com.
One in ten consumers simply cannot be bothered to switch broadband suppliers, while 69% are not getting the best deal possible because they are happy with their supplier or don’t want a bundled package, the research found.
"Our research has shown that those who had switched services in the last 12 months had saved almost £200 over that time - this makes a huge difference to the household wallet," said Ian Williams, communications director at moneysupermarket.com. “Apathy is the biggest warrior at work.”
The figures also show that more than half the UK’s surfers still pay separately for broadband and TV packages, despite potential savings on offer.
“Normally we’re not big fans of bundles, because they are not often price transparent and so it’s difficult to see what you are paying for, but at the moment there are good deals,” Williams told PC Pro.
The company cited savings of £320 a year for consumers moving from Post Office broadband, Sky TV and BT line rental to Sky’s triple deal package.
However, the consumer advice site also cautioned that once people had signed up with a bundled package they might find it hard to move to another service if better deals came up in future.
“People do fear switching and being left without broadband, and this is a bigger issue once you are bundled,” Williams says. “If you have to change your ISP and phone and TV provider all in one then go it is that much more of a hassle and people are less likely to change.”
Author: Stewart Mitchell
Is this really an article, or an advert for Sky?
By mouthrush on 18 Aug 2009 
Service is also important...
Sometimes, the money saved on the headline price is outweighed by poor service, high service costs (expensive hotlines etc.) or going days or weeks without being able to connect.
If I had a good service from one provider, I'd think carefully before jumping ship, just to save a couple of quid...
By big_D on 18 Aug 2009
Cheap does not equal quality
I choose the best ISP based upon speed, reliability, customer service and throttling (or lack of). Because of this I do not have the cheapest available broadband, but I am extremely happy with the service.
By mppreece on 18 Aug 2009
Switching suppliers
69% are not getting the best deal possible because they are happy ...
Says it all really, doesn't it. I've got bundled broadband and telephone, but it would take a lot to make me switch ISP to Sky, and a great deal more to persuade me to switch to Virgin.
By jgwilliams on 18 Aug 2009
Sky!
Agree with all of the above. Lots more to be taken into account than cost. As for this "switch to sky advert" [sic], no. Have you ever needed help from Sky TV....... Awful customer service.
Greig
By assylum on 18 Aug 2009
Cant be bothered? I think it's more a question of fear.
A friend of mine recently switched to Sky. They did her tv within a week. Her phone line was disabled for two weeks. 5 weeks later she's still waiting for her broadband. She can't get hold of anyone who can help.
Terrible report, lazy journalism!
By orfordi on 18 Aug 2009
Cant be bothered? I think it's more a question of fear.
A friend of mine recently switched to Sky. They did her tv within a week. Her phone line was disabled for two weeks. 5 weeks later she's still waiting for her broadband. She can't get hold of anyone who can help.
Terrible report, lazy journalism!
By orfordi on 18 Aug 2009
Lazy - or do they remember what happened the last time they did it
The last time I changed ISP, apart from it being a major hassle to achieve in the first place, left us with out phone or internet for two weeks. Since I work from home I just can't take the risk. I know I pay way over the odds for my broadband and phone bill, but I am effectively held hostage by the incompetence of the ISPs when it comes to switching over.
By Andrew99 on 18 Aug 2009
Agreed - Lazy journalism..
Having just switched to O2 from Pipex, I disagree that Britons won't change ISPs.
I initiated the switch two weeks ago and today I've gone from an 8Mb package that delivered 2.3Mb and poor service to a 10Mb service and rapid support on an 0800 number.
Being outside a cable area, I have no desire for a "package" and everyone who I know who have bought Sky has been asking themselves why they did it.
By cheysuli on 18 Aug 2009
the pain, arrrgh the pain
It is just far too painful for users to costantly switch ISPs. It is by no means made any easier by the incompetence of many ISPs and the way you are treated for daring to ask for your MAC code...
By Bluespider on 18 Aug 2009
are you serious?
I tried to switch from virgin to bt, and in the process they dug the path up outside my house by contractor, and then never sent a engineer to connect me to bt...
They never told me why, so i stayed with virgin.
Dealing with virgin is a bit like chasing your tail. You never get anywhere apart from sitting in a very long telephone queue.
They are all the same, Virgin is the easiest to set up, bt is hopeless, and all the others rely on you having a bt line.
How can this be good?
By bouncy1 on 18 Aug 2009
Any GOOD ISPs ??
Can anyone independent recommend an ISP they are happy with??
By Par4Eljay on 18 Aug 2009
Drumbo
So we're all too lazy to switch ISPs? If by lazy you mean unwilling to spend hours waiting on expensive helplines, days fathoming out tricky wireless/router/LAN settings while listening to your teenagers whining that they can't get on XBox Live, or weeks trying to sort out weird billing arrangements then by God I'm lazy all right. And don't get me started me on Sky . . .
By JShining on 18 Aug 2009
GOOD ISPs
Par4Eljay
www.thinkbroadband.com
use their comparison service - make sure you click IDNet as one of the companies which give a superb level of Internet Providings
By mppreece on 18 Aug 2009
"make sure you click IDNet as one of the companies which give a superb level of Internet Providings"
Sorry, that should say:
...click IDNet to compare against the others.
By mppreece on 18 Aug 2009
GOOD ISPs
Par4Eljay
www.thinkbroadband.com
use their comparison service - make sure you click IDNet as one of the companies which give a superb level of Internet Providings
By mppreece on 18 Aug 2009
Gaah, Double post. I hate these new message boards
By mppreece on 18 Aug 2009
Good ISP
I help a number of small charities with internet and I have found that Zen offer an excellent (if slightly pricey) service that does not seem to get throttled. I also have a couple of users on Plus who, although being owned by BT, actually offer a decent competitive service.
By milliganp on 19 Aug 2009
They know how to stop you
I'm sure I'm not alone in believeing it only takes an ISP a minute or so to switch a connection, and they just leave you for two weeks as a way of making it too much hassle for you.
Im with O2, who have so far provided excellent fast and cheap service, except when I moved house and it took two weeks to set up the connection, despite me staying with them!
By phantombudgie on 19 Aug 2009
Too Expensive To re connect Phone Line...
My main problem with changing over to another sevice provider is the cost of having a new phone line fitted and reconnection. In total it's about £200 just to open up other broadband options. Only other option is if there's another cable provider that I can switch to without any connection fee.
By TazWorld on 20 Aug 2009
Good ISP
I've been using PlusNet for a number of years and been very happy with the service. Although they are now owned by BT they seem to have a good deal of autonomy. And when I moved house everything went smoothly and was ready exactly when they said it would be.
By jgwilliams on 21 Aug 2009
“Apathy is the biggest warrior at work.”
What a f u c king nonsensical oxymororn.
By dodge1963 on 23 Aug 2009
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