| Choosing your broadband package isn't a decision to | | | | also be a one-off connection charge, usually around |
| be taken lightly. With so many different offers | | | | £30-£40, which you have to pay |
| floating around it's sometimes easier to just head for | | | | before you can commence with the service. |
| the cheapest and hope for the best. But the | | | | Introductory offers are something to be aware of. |
| cheapest isn't necessarily the best, as many | | | | Often a broadband provider will let you have the first |
| dissatisfied broadband customers have already found | | | | few months of a contract at a low price, only to |
| out. | | | | bump up the payments later. Also check the cost per |
| First impressions are as important for a broadband | | | | minute of the helpline numbers, for if something goes |
| provider as they are for someone going for a job | | | | wrong you may discover you spend more trying to |
| interview. They want potential customers to be | | | | fix it than you would have saved on your broadband. |
| instantly attracted to their company, so they | | | | More often than not a cheap broadband package will |
| advertise a nice low monthly fee, usually under | | | | have a lower download limit. If you use the internet a |
| £10. This of course grabs a consumer's | | | | lot, it's worth paying slightly more per month for a |
| attention and they sign up unthinkingly, only to find | | | | higher limit, as the costs of going over this could be |
| out later that they're stuck in an 18 month contract | | | | much higher. And downloading doesn't just mean |
| paying much more than the £10 they initially | | | | taking music and videos off the web. Anything you |
| expected. | | | | do on the internet, including sending emails, shopping |
| Of course, this is a slightly exaggerated scenario, but | | | | or even just browsing sites, counts towards your |
| the fact remains that there are usually hidden costs | | | | download limit. |
| when it comes to a broadband package. For | | | | The golden rule is, you can't go by first impressions |
| example, the initial monthly cost may not take into | | | | when it comes to your broadband provider. Look |
| account the line rental, which is payable to BT on top | | | | beyond the lovely low monthly offer and into the |
| of the payment you make to your ISP. There may | | | | murky depths of the hidden charges. |