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April's bill hikes mean that Britons are facing a £216 annual rise across essential services, including nearly £40 a year extra on broadband.
This is according to price comparison website Uswitch, which also said that broadband switching rose 24 per cent year on year in March as households look to beat price hikes.
Most broadband companies put up their prices mid-contract in March or April, something they are able to do as it's stated in their terms and conditions.
There are some very competitive broadband deals currently available for those looking to switch, which we list below.
Ernest Doku, broadband expert at Uswitch, said we're seeing a 'significant shift' in the market: 'The expansion of regional networks - both aggressively priced and keenly focused on customer service - has created a level of competition that hasn't been seen in years.
'These providers are offering high speeds and great reliability on their networks at much lower price points, which is finally forcing the bigger brands to offer much more to keep their customers.'
One in five have switched internet provider
As council tax, water, TV licence, mobile and broadband bills surge, saving money on internet is one of the easier ways to slash your costs - especially if you're out of contract.
Even if you're in contract, some providers can cover the cost of early termination charges. The likes of EE, Sky and Vodafone run schemes that let you apply for switching credit once you get your final bill from your previous provider.
New Uswitch research reveals that one in five broadband customers either moved to a new provider ahead of the price rises or intend to do so in the next three months.
However, this leaves many broadband customers that have remained with their current provider - and so subject to April's bill hikes.
Indeed, the Uswitch research found that 39 per cent of broadband bill payers were aware of the rising costs, but didn't have a plan to act.
If you're out of contract, you're already paying over the odds for broadband. Providers usually charge those who aren't locked into a minimum term a higher monthly rate - so it's worth checking your contract to see whether you can switch easily.
Ernest Doku, Uswitch's expert, said: 'The average household coming to the end of their contract could save £329 a year by switching to a new deal, so it really pays to see what else is out there.'
If you're still in contract, you should check whether the provider you want to switch to can cover your exit fees in the form of switching credit. Examples of providers that do so include Vodafone - which pays up to £200 - and EE, paying up to £300.
You’ll need to find out whether you’re eligible for the credit before going ahead, but it’s another major incentive to switch.
Even in the absence of switching credit, if you find a package with significantly lower costs than your current one, you could still be better off in the long run.
Even more choice with the rise of regional networks
A slew of regional networks has sprung up in recent years, giving major broadband providers a run for their money.
Some of the more well-known names in this space include Community Fibre, Gigaclear and Hyperoptic.
They won't all have wide availability, but they usually focus on providing a good service to the customers they can cover.
They often advertise very fast speeds at reasonable prices, through a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connection.
Not every household can get this type of connection. But if it's available at your household, you can access faster speeds than a traditional connection that still runs partly on copper cables.
Because not every network is available in your area, it's worth using a comparison tool* that allows you to enter your address to see what deals you can get.
We've consistently seen strong deals from BeFibre, Community Fibre, Toob and YouFibre, with some providers even promising no mid-contract price rises for the duration of the term. Here are current examples at good speeds:
- BeFibre - Be200*: £20 a month over 24 months, with £70 gift card
- Community Fibre - 150Mbps Fibre Broadband*: £17.99 a month over 24 months, with £80 gift card
- Toob - home150*: £16 a month over 18 months
- YouFibre - You200*: £20 a month over 12 months
You can discover more about choosing broadband and our pick of the best deals in our guide to our favourite broadband packages, which is regularly updated.
Find the fastest and cheapest broadband - and see if you can save
Broadband, TV and phone contracts are notoriously sticky, with customers often allowing deals to run on for many years while providers raise prices.
But it may be possible for you to get faster broadband, a better TV package and an improved phone deal, while saving money each month.
It is always worth comparing prices to see if you can save - particularly as the cost of living crisis bites.
This is Money has partnered with Broadband Choices to offer readers the chance to easily search for the best and cheapest deals for their broadband, mobile and TV.