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Are you one of millions of Britons who overpay for broadband — spending up to an extra £290 a year?
According to figures from Broadband Genie, some 8.8 million customers across the UK are out of contract with their broadband supplier. That means there are no restrictions on whether you're able to ditch your current provider and switch to a new deal – unlocking lower monthly bills and faster downloads.
- Sky will pay £200 if you switch to its broadband deals, but EE offers even MORE to join its internet
Not only that, but since most telecom brands increase your bills each year, the longer that you stick with the same provider, the more you'll end up paying for the same speeds and service. Loyalty only ends up costing you more, so it's a really good idea to switch as often as you're able to.
The team at Broadband Genie spoke to 3,997 bill payers over four months to determine who is overpaying for their monthly broadband bills – and mapped out those people on a map of the UK
|BROADBAND GENIE
Most of the households that overpay for their monthly broadband are out-of-contract, meaning Britons could ring up their existing provider to renegotiate a new contract, or switch to a deal from a rival brand.
Most minimum contract terms are between 12- and 24-months, so you'll be locked into whatever package you choose for some time, so it's worth choosing the right deal.
Broadband Genie has reached out and interviewed 3,997 broadband bill payers across the UK and compared what they pay to a market-leading deal to find who is overpaying the most. Based on data collected by Broadband Genie, if you live in Wolverhampton, you're most likely to overspend on your internet connection.
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| # | City | How much are they overspending? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | £292.56 |
| 2 | Wrexham | £280.32 |
| 3 | Liverpool | £278.88 |
| 4 | Gloucester | £276.36 |
| 5 | Exeter | £276.24 |
| 6 | Birmingham | £269.76 |
| 7 | Manchester | £269.52 |
| 8 | Cambridge | £269.16 |
| 9 | Hull | £267.24 |
| 10 | Leeds | £263.52 |
It's the residents of the third-largest city in the Midlands who are most likely to spend more than they need to. Broadband Genie compared the average spend in each area of the UK with the savings customers could make over a 12-month period.
In total, UK broadband bill payers overpay on their broadband by £2 billion each year.
Wolverhampton overpays on its broadband the most, UK broadband comparison site Broadband Genie discovered. It's mapped out the other nine cities nationwide where the average residents overspend on Wi-Fi in the home.
Across the UK, on average, broadband customers overspend £183.60 – and over the Black Friday period, this can top £230 as monthly broadband bills are slashed with the fresh batch of deals.
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Broadband Genie provided a breakdown of the age demographic across all UK cities.
| Age | Monthly spend | Annual overspend |
| 18 to 24 | £29.49 | £120.48 |
| 25 to 34 | £31.52 | £144.86 |
| 35 to 44 | £35.31 | £190.35 |
| 45 to 54 | £39.65 | £242.44 |
| 55 to 64 | £41.79 | £268.12 |
| 65+ | £44.68 | £302.81 |
Speaking about the research, expert at Broadband Genie, Alex Tofts told GB News: "No customer should have to settle for overpriced broadband for below-par speeds. Too many providers take advantage of loyal customers by hiking up their price when they come to the end of their deal.
"Switching your broadband deal may sound daunting, but it’s actually stress-free. Once you choose a new deal, your new provider will handle all the legwork and cancel your existing one. In most cases, you won’t even notice the switch happening on the day.
"We urge customers to take action to lower the cost of their broadband bill. Black Friday is an excellent time to shop around, and household bills such as broadband are one of the few Black Friday purchases where you’re saving, not spending.
"If you love your provider, and don’t want to switch, don’t fear! You can renew your contract so you don’t miss out on reducing your monthly outgoings. However, it’s unlikely you’ll get the same deal as a new customer."
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