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Cheapest Broadband

We're all being squeezed by the current credit crunch, so you're bound to be looking at the price of your broadband. But don't just look at the headline rate. Think about what broadband is cheapest for your needs.

A big thing to consider is your broadband download habits. If you download a lot, you will probably go for an unlimited broadband package. But be aware that the providers of even these offers can still charge as there is such a thing as a fair usage policy. If you exceed this, you can be charged or asked to upgrade to a more expensive broadband package. This defeats all your original research. Look at when you're downloading too, as some ISP providers like Evolution broadband, in theory unlimited, throttle bandwidth during peak times.

Do you just want broadband or would you go for a bundle including broadband? Sky Broadband, Tiscali and Virgin Media offer bundles including digital TV and phone calls. Tiscali offer the cheapest triple play bundle. But it's only a bargain if you need it.

If you're not very confident about your PC security, then a broadband provider like BT offers free security worth £59.99. And if you're thinking of making a lot of calls to customer service, it's worth considering how your target providers are set up for that. Many broadband providers use non-UK call centres which can put some people off. Virgin Media, BT and Tiscali have their call centres in India. O2 have a UK based one. Madasafish has their call centre in South Africa but have won awards for customer service.

Check out the cost of your potential calls too. Orange and Virgin Media charge 50p and 25p per minute respectively. O2 technical support is free.

It seems previous, but think about when you might want to leave. Some broadband providers charge you for breaking your contract early, even if you weren't happy with the service. You might want to look into 'no contract' broadband providers.

So in summary, the cheapest price for broadband is relative to what's important to you. Make sure you've identified your own deal breakers and choose accordingly. You can also use this site to help you compare broadband providers objectively.

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