Latest news with #SabrinaHoque
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Scotsman
06-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
We asked people in the UK what they'd do with an extra £100. Some people said they would put the £100 towards a holiday, while others said they'd spend the money on food or eating out. A lot of people
This video More videos Watch as the public answers what they'd do with an extra £100. Keep up with the latest new videos with the Shots! Newsletter. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Household bills have risen by £36bn collectively since March, with UK households paying over £100 more a month on average. We spoke to an expert on what the public can do to cut their bills, with three key potential cost-cutting areas being broadband, mobile and energy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How can I cut my household bills? Sabrina Hoque, telecoms expert, said: 'It really has been an awful April. So most of us in the UK would have been impacted by the rising cost of bills. Now that's across water, energy, broadband, mobile, council tax, we would have all seen our bills getting more and more expensive. 'It is costing us individually over £100 extra a month, but collectively in the UK that adds up to £36 billion so it is a lot of money. 'Not only is this impacting customers financially, but it is also affecting them emotionally as well, with 12% of Brits are now not able to save at all. Council tax, water for now there's not much we can do, but broadband, mobile and energy is where customers could really help themselves and see some very significant savings. 'It used to be the case that loyalty would pay but unfortunately that's not the case anymore. So for those customers that have been with their provider for four to six years, it's likely that they're out of contract so those are the customers that could save the most. There are some really incredible introductory rates that we see, so if a customer did switch away to a new provider they're likely to make the biggest savings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So for those out of contract now's a great time to switch, there's no exit fee, make a lot of savings. If you're in contract, always call your provider up first to see if they can help you out, if you are really concerned about paying bills. It may be as practical as something like removing a particular service so if you took broadband out a few years ago and you've added TV to it, it might be you might not need the TV element of it, so see if your provider can actually take that element off, but the key thing is call your provider up, see if they can actually help you with your bills.' What would you do with a spare £100? We asked people in the UK what they'd do with an extra £100. Some people said they would put the £100 towards a holiday, while others said they'd spend the money on food or eating out. A lot of people said they'd use their £100 for their household bills. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One man said he'd put the £100 towards paying his car insurance, while someone else said they'd use it to buy books or records. Some people also said they'd give the money to charity.
.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
06-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
We asked people in the UK what they'd do with an extra £100. Some people said they would put the £100 towards a holiday, while others said they'd spend the money on food or eating out. A lot of people
This video More videos Watch as the public answers what they'd do with an extra £100. Keep up with the latest new videos with the Shots! Newsletter. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Household bills have risen by £36bn collectively since March, with UK households paying over £100 more a month on average. We spoke to an expert on what the public can do to cut their bills, with three key potential cost-cutting areas being broadband, mobile and energy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How can I cut my household bills? Sabrina Hoque, telecoms expert, said: 'It really has been an awful April. So most of us in the UK would have been impacted by the rising cost of bills. Now that's across water, energy, broadband, mobile, council tax, we would have all seen our bills getting more and more expensive. 'It is costing us individually over £100 extra a month, but collectively in the UK that adds up to £36 billion so it is a lot of money. 'Not only is this impacting customers financially, but it is also affecting them emotionally as well, with 12% of Brits are now not able to save at all. Council tax, water for now there's not much we can do, but broadband, mobile and energy is where customers could really help themselves and see some very significant savings. 'It used to be the case that loyalty would pay but unfortunately that's not the case anymore. So for those customers that have been with their provider for four to six years, it's likely that they're out of contract so those are the customers that could save the most. There are some really incredible introductory rates that we see, so if a customer did switch away to a new provider they're likely to make the biggest savings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So for those out of contract now's a great time to switch, there's no exit fee, make a lot of savings. If you're in contract, always call your provider up first to see if they can help you out, if you are really concerned about paying bills. It may be as practical as something like removing a particular service so if you took broadband out a few years ago and you've added TV to it, it might be you might not need the TV element of it, so see if your provider can actually take that element off, but the key thing is call your provider up, see if they can actually help you with your bills.' What would you do with a spare £100? We asked people in the UK what they'd do with an extra £100. Some people said they would put the £100 towards a holiday, while others said they'd spend the money on food or eating out. A lot of people said they'd use their £100 for their household bills. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One man said he'd put the £100 towards paying his car insurance, while someone else said they'd use it to buy books or records. Some people also said they'd give the money to charity.
Scottish Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
How to switch broadband providers, save money and get faster speeds without paying £300 exit fees
SWITCHING broadband providers can save you money and help you get faster speeds - but customers are often tied in to contracts. However, a growing number of providers now offer switching incentives to tempt customers to join them by their exit fees. 1 Many major telecom providers now offer incentives to attract new customers, which could cover your exit fees entirely Credit: Alamy Sabrina Hoque, Uswitch broadband expert said: "If you are still in your broadband contract, but not happy with your service or think you're paying too much, it could still be worth switching if it'll save you money in the long-run. "This can incur an early exit fee, but several providers now offer to cover some of these costs as an incentive." These perks, often called "Switching Credit," "Welcome Credit," or "Contract Buyout," are designed to make switching easier. Switching credits work by reimbursing you for the early termination fees charged by your current provider, up to a certain amount. This means you can move to a better broadband deal without worrying about paying a large penalty to leave your old contract. However, these credits are not always widely advertised, so you may need to contact the provider directly to enquire about them. According to a recent survey by ISPreview, a news site specialising in internet service providers, many providers now offer these credits. Easy ways to slash your mobile bill Check if you're out of contract TO check if your broadband contract has ended, log into your provider's online account or app, check your latest bill, or contact your provider directly via phone or live chat Providers are usually required to notify you 10 to 40 days before your contract ends, usually via email, text, or letter. For example, EE and BT provide switching credits of up to £300, while Sky offers up to £100 for broadband-only packages or £200 for broadband and TV bundles. Vodafone offers up to £100 for customers on 24-month contracts, and Hyperoptic provides up to nine months of free service on 24-month contracts. KCOM offers switching credits of up to £200, depending on the package, while YouFibre provides up to £300 for 18-month contracts. Brsk offers up to £150 for 18-month contracts as well. Fibrus offers up to £400, with the exact amount depending on the deal, and Connect Fibre provides up to three months of free service. Quickline rounds off the list with switching credits of up to £300, issued via a prepaid Mastercard. Despite these enticing offers, Alex Tofts, a strategist at Broadband Genie, advises customers to carefully review the terms and conditions attached to these deals. "While switching credits can seem appealing, it's crucial to understand what's required to claim them," says Tofts. "These credits can range from £25 on certain Vodafone deals to £300 on some EE broadband packages, but they may not fully cover your exit fees. "Additionally, you'll need sufficient funds in your account to pay the exit fee before your new provider reimburses you. "The claims process can be strict, and it's often your responsibility to follow up on the claim." For this reason, it's essential to carefully compare the new deal with your current one and determine the exact exit fee you'd incur before making any commitments. How do I switch providers? Switching TV, broadband and landline providers has become significantly easier due to new rules introduced in September 2024. Customers now only need to contact their new provider to make the switch, eliminating the need to deal with their current provider, even if they find a better deal elsewhere. Since 2015, customers using Openreach's network – which includes providers like BT and Sky – have been able to switch by allowing their new provider to handle the process. However, switching to or from providers like Virgin Media, which operates on its own independent network, previously required contacting the existing provider to arrange the change. Ofcom's new "One Touch" rules have streamlined the process for all networks. Now, customers switching services only need to liaise with their new provider, regardless of the network. These rules also ensure that customers won't pay notice-period charges beyond the switch date, meaning they won't be billed for overlapping services. Additionally, providers are required to compensate customers for any issues during the switch, such as being left without service for more than one working day. The amount of compensation will vary depending on the situation. The new rules align broadband and TV switching with mobile switching. Since 2019, mobile phone customers have been able to switch providers using the "text to switch" system, avoiding the hassle of calling their current network. To find the best deals, consider visiting comparison sites such as MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch. These platforms allow you to tailor your search based on factors like price, data allowances, and preferred providers.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
How to switch broadband providers, save money and get faster speeds without paying £300 exit fees
SWITCHING broadband providers can save you money and help you get faster speeds - but customers are often tied in to contracts. However, a growing number of providers now offer switching incentives to tempt customers to join them by their exit fees. 1 Sabrina Hoque, Uswitch broadband expert said: "If you are still in your broadband contract, but not happy with your service or think you're paying too much, it could still be worth switching if it'll save you money in the long-run. "This can incur an early exit fee, but several providers now offer to cover some of these costs as an incentive." These perks, often called "Switching Credit," "Welcome Credit," or "Contract Buyout," are designed to make switching easier. Switching credits work by reimbursing you for the early termination fees charged by your current provider, up to a certain amount. This means you can move to a better broadband deal without worrying about paying a large penalty to leave your old contract. However, these credits are not always widely advertised, so you may need to contact the provider directly to enquire about them. According to a recent survey by ISPreview, a news site specialising in internet service providers, many providers now offer these credits. For example, EE and BT provide switching credits of up to £300, while Sky offers up to £100 for broadband-only packages or £200 for broadband and TV bundles. Vodafone offers up to £100 for customers on 24-month contracts, and Hyperoptic provides up to nine months of free service on 24-month contracts. KCOM offers switching credits of up to £200, depending on the package, while YouFibre provides up to £300 for 18-month contracts. Brsk offers up to £150 for 18-month contracts as well. Fibrus offers up to £400, with the exact amount depending on the deal, and Connect Fibre provides up to three months of free service. Quickline rounds off the list with switching credits of up to £300, issued via a prepaid Mastercard. Despite these enticing offers, Alex Tofts, a strategist at Broadband Genie, advises customers to carefully review the terms and conditions attached to these deals. "While switching credits can seem appealing, it's crucial to understand what's required to claim them," says Tofts. "These credits can range from £25 on certain Vodafone deals to £300 on some EE broadband packages, but they may not fully cover your exit fees. "Additionally, you'll need sufficient funds in your account to pay the exit fee before your new provider reimburses you. "The claims process can be strict, and it's often your responsibility to follow up on the claim." For this reason, it's essential to carefully compare the new deal with your current one and determine the exact exit fee you'd incur before making any commitments. How do I switch providers? Switching TV, broadband and landline providers has become significantly easier due to new rules introduced in September 2024. Customers now only need to contact their new provider to make the switch, eliminating the need to deal with their current provider, even if they find a better deal elsewhere. Since 2015, customers using Openreach's network – which includes providers like BT and Sky – have been able to switch by allowing their new provider to handle the process. However, switching to or from providers like Virgin Media, which operates on its own independent network, previously required contacting the existing provider to arrange the change. Ofcom 's new "One Touch" rules have streamlined the process for all networks. Now, customers switching services only need to liaise with their new provider, regardless of the network. These rules also ensure that customers won't pay notice-period charges beyond the switch date, meaning they won't be billed for overlapping services. Additionally, providers are required to compensate customers for any issues during the switch, such as being left without service for more than one working day. The amount of compensation will vary depending on the situation. The new rules align broadband and TV switching with mobile switching. Since 2019, mobile phone customers have been able to switch providers using the "text to switch" system, avoiding the hassle of calling their current network. To find the best deals, consider visiting comparison sites such as MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Millions told they could still save by acting now ahead of April price hikes
Price hikes totalling £74 million per month are set to hit millions of broadband and mobile customers from March 31, but experts have said its not too late to take action and avoid the hit. The April broadband increases are expected to add an average of £21.99 annually for those on inflation-linked contracts and up to £42 a year for those on newer 'pounds and pence' plans that are subject to fixed price rises set by the provider at the start of their contract. And price rises will add an average of £15.90 a year to the bills of mobile customers on inflation-linked contracts or up to £48 for those who took out a contract more recently with Ofcom's new 'pounds and pence' rules applied. However, experts at have said its not too late to avoid the price rises if you act now. More than nine million Brits are out of contract on their broadband package and 33 million on their mobile plan. These customers are free to switch providers now and avoid unnecessary price hikes. While customers can leave their contract at any time, those still locked in will likely need to pay a penalty for leaving early, which varies from provider to provider. Sky broadband customers are an exception and are currently being offered a 30-day window during which they can terminate their contract without being hit with an exit fee. For customers looking for a new broadband deal, Vodafone, Virgin Media, and Community Fibre are some of the providers freezing prices until 2026 for those who switch before the April increases. Several broadband and mobile providers commit to no price rises at all throughout the contract duration. For broadband, smaller regional providers such as Trooli, YouFibre and Hyperoptic don't increase prices mid-contract. For those looking to save on their mobile phones, customers with providers such as VOXI, Lebara, and SMARTY can rest assured that these providers are committed to not increasing their prices mid-contract. The free text that could save you hundreds of pounds on your phone bill Martin Lewis urgent 'do it right now' warning to anyone with holiday booked Martin Lewis shares 'bad news' as he warns energy bills are 'going to rise' Sabrina Hoque, telecoms expert at comments: 'For the millions of mobile and broadband customers currently out of contract, now is the time to act before the April price increases kick in. 'If you don't know when your contract ends, you can usually find this information on your bill. It only takes a minute or two to check, and it could end up saving you a significant amount in the long run. Our data shows that switching to a new broadband deal after your initial contract has ended could save you £181 a year. 'The launch of One Touch Switch means it's never been easier for broadband customers to vote with their feet and switch providers - smaller, regional broadband providers like Hyperoptic and Trooli don't raise their prices mid-contract. 'Mobile customers can also text 'INFO' to 85075 to find out if they are still in contract and any exit fees associated with leaving early. If you can switch, several SIM-only providers such as VOXI and SMARTY commit to no price rises for the duration of the contract. 'Don't get caught out by price rises that you might be able to avoid; check your contract today and see if you could escape the mobile and broadband bill sting this spring.'
