Money blog: £30 broadband rule explained - and how you can get a cheaper deal (even with an existing provider) (2025)

If you're paying more than £30 a month for broadband, you're paying too much.

Which? has released data looking at full fibre deals with a download speed of at least 70Mbps, the UK average.

It found many deals that came in at less than £30 even with upfront costs, promotional discounts and future mid-contract increases factored in.

The not-for-profit consumer champion says more than a third of broadband customers are out of contract - meaning they're likely to be paying an expensive standard tariff and getting hit with a hefty price rise each year.

We wanted to look beyond the press release to get some practical tips for Money blog readers, so sat down with Which? head of home products and services Natalie Hitchins...

Hi Natalie, firstly, why do most broadband customers find themselves paying more than £30...

Out-of-contract customers often pay more than those in a contract. For customers who don't haggle, prices will continue to rise based on annual hikes and by how much providers decide to increase prices at the end of a contract. They'll also miss out on low introductory offers from rivals that are looking to entice new customers.

How much could most of these customers save?

Our research shows that out-of-contract TV and broadband customers could save an average of £160 a year by switching and £117 by haggling. So it's well worth doing your research on the best deals on the market and switching to a new provider, or haggling with your current supplier if you're happy with the service.

Okay, you're an expert in this - what's the best way to haggle?

Haggling can sound daunting, but it's expected and invited by most of the big broadband providers. These days, it doesn't have to include a long phone call either - most providers will allow you to do it via live chat.

Do your research on the deals available and use this information to negotiate with your provider. If you want a faster speed, a better router or additional services such as pay TV, then simply ask your provider what they can do for you.

You can use a switching service, likeWhich? Compare, to check the deals available in your area and compare them to your contract.

Haggling is particularly important if you don't have multiple providers to choose from in your area. If you're in that boat, it's essential to stay on top of your contract and renegotiate regularly.

Contracts can be long and many people don't have time to read every word - what are the key things to look out for?

Check for any mid-contract price hikes that mean your bills could increase annually. These price rises are used by many of the biggest firms, including BT, EE, TalkTalk and Virgin Media.

Many of the smaller firms don't bake these price hikes into their contracts, so there are plenty of options available to avoid future increases. Essentially, calculate the full cost of a contract in advance so you can more easily compare providers.

Make a note of when your contract ends so you can remember to haggle or switch when it comes to an end.

Some experts say bundling is a good way to save - what's your view?

It really depends on whether you will use everything included in the bundle. For example, some providers include TV bundles - such as Sky Sports. It's important to weigh up how much you will use this and whether the extra cost is worth it for you.

Should you be trying to get incentives?

It's become increasingly common for broadband providers to offer a little sweetener to entice new customers, so look out for incentives when you switch providers. They typically include vouchers and reward cards, but sometimes hardware is on offer too - we've spotted things such as wireless speakers, tablets or even televisions. However, since many of these are factored into a higher monthly cost, always compare the price you're paying carefully with what you can get elsewhere.

There's usually a process to apply for these incentives, so if you're offered any incentive with a new deal, take note of what's necessary to claim it when you sign up and set a reminder so you don't forget before you run out of time.

Is it right that people in certain parts of the country could have access to cheaper deals?

Our analysis focused on services using the Openreach and Virgin Media networks, as these are widely available throughout the UK.

However, even cheaper deals will be available to those in certain parts of the country - if you live in parts of London or Hull, for example, deals offered by Community Fibre and KCOM are often even more attractively priced than those offered by the major providers.

Because alternative networks are continually rolling out services in different parts of the country, you may be lucky enough to have access to one such as those offered by Hyperoptic or CityFibre (used to provide Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone and Zen Internet in certain areas), or smaller localised providers.

Find out more using ourguide to regional broadband providers.

Thinking of heading to Switzerland for the UEFA Women's Euros this summer? It might be worth knowing about this deal - and all the small print that comes with it.

Booking.com is offering 50% back on hotel rooms, hotels and apartments for fans travelling to follow their team at the competition.

You can get the deal by using the promo code FOOTY50 when booking accommodation in one of the host cities between 1 and 28 July.

But there are some details that you need to be aware of.

You don't get the 50% back in cash

Basically, the 50% back is rewarded to you in travel credits, which you can then use on Booking.com towards a future trip.

They must be used to book another trip within 12 months from the date the travel credits are received.

This should be as soon as you check out but it could take up to two weeks after you have booked your trip.

Promo code is only valid for one specific week

The promo code you need to use to claim the deal is only valid between 9am on 20 May and 9am on 27 May.

It might even be cut shorter as it can only be used 175 times or until £35,000 is spent in total by customers using the code.

There is a maximum reward value

There is also a maximum reward value of 3,000 euros, which is around £2,526.

This means you won't get back any more than that amount.

NOW has announced that it is increasing the prices of three of its broadband products from July.

Customers on Fab Fibre, Super Fibre and Brilliant Broadband will see their bills rise by £3 a month, which equates to an extra £36 a year.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch, said the rise was in line with what many of the bigger broadband providers have implemented.

He said it worked out as around a 10% increase when applied to the average monthly broadband bill of £29.60, which is higher than the current 2.6% inflation rate.

But he added customers could avoid the costs by switching to a different provider before the rise comes into force.

NOW, which is owned by the parent company of Sky News, is giving customers 31 days from receiving the price increase notification to cancel their contract without any early termination fees.

"Data from Uswitch shows that consumers can save an average of £181 by switching broadband providers," said Doku.

"It's also worth considering regional providers, such as Hyperoptic or Trooli, who not only offer fast speeds at low prices but also don’t increase prices mid-contract."

It should be noted that Uswitch is a comparison service and switching site, so obviously has an interest in people opting for a new provider.

Check out the Money blog first thing tomorrow for more on the theme of getting a cheaper broadband deal...

ByMegan Harwood-Baynes, cost of living specialist

Empty cosmetic packages aren't normally the first things that come to mind when trying to make extra cash.

But recycling your containers at a few select stores - and being savvy with old perfume bottles - can earn you more than you'd think.

Recycling

Several recycling schemes will give you vouchers, discounts and even free gifts for using them.

Boots Scan2Recycle: This one is a bit of a faff, but you could ultimately be rewarded with a £5 voucher, so I think it's worth it. Download the app to see a list of eligible containers to recycle, and then you need to take a picture of the product and upload it to the app to register it. You can also now recycle your medicine blister packs under the scheme.

After the image has been verified, you drop it off in store at a recycling scheme, scanning both a QR code and the item's barcode again. Once the deposit is confirmed, you get a £5 reward voucher - one a day, or up to eight a month if you recycle that much stuff.

John Lewis BeautyCycle: Sadly this scheme is not quite as good as it once was. It followed the same principles as Boots, with £5 off a £20 spend in return for recycling five empties. But now you have to spend £50 or more on B Corp-certified beauty brands.

This includes brands like Chloe and Elemis, but it's still quite expensive, with quite a high qualifying price.

Wild: If you already use Wild deodorant, it now has a scheme where you can send back an old or broken case and in return you are sent a £5 voucher. The scheme has recently been expanded, and you can now also return body wash and lip balm cases.

Lush:This one has been around for a while, but it's a classic for a reason. Bring back five empty Lush containers and you will be rewarded with a free face mask. Or if you don't have five, each container will earn you 50p off in store.

CultBeauty: You can add a free recycle:me bag to your order, and once you've downloaded its recycling app, you can scan to see which items are eligible to be returned. You need a minimum of five items but you'll then get £5 worth of points added to your account.

The Perfume Shop: Take back any empty perfume bottle and you'll get 15% off an in-store purchase. This is good if you are already planning to replace an item and have an empty one to hand.

L'Occitane: Take back beauty containers from any brand and get 10% off in store.

Selling

Sell perfume bottles on eBay

I was given my first bottle of Marc Jacobs perfume on my 19th birthday and have loved his scents ever since. They come in absolutely stunning bottles, but after ten years, I just had too many cluttering up my dressing table, and thanks to Stacey Solomon starting a trend of upcycling old bottles, they're quite easy to sell online. (Yes, they are empty, all the perfume is gone.)

I listed a couple on eBay for £4 a go - they were quickly snapped up. Stupidly, I got offered £15 for one and got cocky thinking I would win more at auction. I didn't, and that seller grabbed themselves a £3.53 bargain. Lesson learnt.

Nearly a quarter of parents have seen their adult children move back home after leaving, research by NatWest has shown.

The average age of a "re-nesting" adult is 26, the bank found, but more than a fifth who return to their parents' home are over the age of 30.

Many children don't return home alone, either. Almost one in four (22%) of parents polled reported that their child moved back in with a partner or family of their own.

The survey of 2,000 people across the UK found 42% of mothers would welcome back their children as adults, compared with 34% of fathers.

A total of 60% of parents said they would charge their children rent, with most (33%) charging between £101 - £200 per month.

The main reason for adults returning home was financial, with many hoping the move would allow them to save for a deposit of their own.

Once they returned, the average adult spent around two years at home before leaving again.

Eco-friendly tourists in Copenhagen are being rewarded with free gifts and discounts.

A total of 90 attractions in Denmark's capital have signed up to the CopenPay scheme, offering people a range of rewards for completing green tasks.

For example, if you take the train to the city, CopenPay will offer you a free meal consisting of fresh surplus food from local stores, or a free guided tour of several attractions.

If you book four days or more at a participating hotel, you will be able to claim a free bike rental, a vegetarian lunch or get a discount on some tours.

You can earn rewards in three ways:

• Actions during your stay: Take part in a clean-up, travel by bike or public transport, or choose plant-based food.
• Getting to Copenhagen: Travel to Copenhagen by train or electric car.
• Length of your stay: Book four or more nights in Copenhagen.

"Rather than bringing more tourists to the city, the goal with CopenPay is to nudge our visitors and raise their awareness about travelling in a more sustainable way - exploring Copenhagen more responsibly while being rewarded with unique experiences," says Soren Tegen Pedersen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen.

"Tourism must move from being an environmental burden to a force for positive change."

You can see all the participating attractions and tasks you can complete here.

The scheme will run for nine weeks starting on 17 June.

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter

Wage rises are slowing, and there are fewer jobs on offer as employers grapple with higher costs, official figures show.

In the month when the minimum wage rose and employers' national insurance increases kicked in, job vacancies fell, according to April data from the Office for National Statistics.

Job vacancies have now fallen below the pre-pandemic level of March 2020, down from a peak of 1.3 million in early 2022 to 761,000 last month.

Average weekly earnings continued to rise faster than inflation, at 5.5% down from 5.7%, while pay excluding bonuses grew at a lower 5.6% level, down from 5.9%, in the three months to March, ONS figures showed.

It means wages are rising more slowly than before but faster than the rate of price rises.

Kim Kardashian's rapidly growing shapewear company is set to open its first store in the UK.

The reality star's SKIMS will take over the former Ted Baker site in London's Regent Street next year.

Worth around £4bn, the business was founded by Kardashian, British entrepreneur and Dragon's Den star Emma Grede and her husband Jens Grede in 2019.

SKIMS products, which include shapewear, underwear, dresses and pyjamas, are already available in Selfridges and Harrods.

Robert Norton, chief commercial officer at SKIMS, said: "Opening our first UK store on London's iconic Regent Street is a landmark moment for SKIMS.

"Its global prestige and vibrant history make it the perfect setting to debut our immersive retail experience."

The brand has signed the leasing deal with The Crown Estate, which said the store's opening highlights Regent Street's "sustained attractiveness for global brands".

Tesco has apologised to customers after they were incorrectly told they had earned £100 of Clubcard points.

In an email to affected shoppers, the supermarket giant said it was "very sorry" for "mistakenly" sending an email saying they had been awarded the points.

The £100 worth of points were given to customers who booked a trip with easyJet holidays using Clubcard vouchers as part of a deal earlier this year.

But those who did not take part in the promotion also received an email saying they had received the reward.

Some confused shoppers posted on X, asking Tesco what was going on.

Others thought they were being scammed...

In a response to one shopper, Tesco confirmed the email was not a scam and that it had "accidentally" sent it.

"This is a mistake, hence the above email you have received. I'm sorry for any upset caused," it said.

A spokesperson for Tesco told Money: "An email meant for customers who had collected £100 of Clubcard points after booking an EasyJet Holidays break using Tesco Clubcard Vouchers was mistakenly sent to other Clubcard members.

"We are sorry about the confusion and have followed up with an email to the customers who wrongly received the message to apologise."

Marks & Spencer has confirmed that customers' personal data was stolen in its recent cyber attack.

The retail giant's chief executive Stuart Machin said the data had been accessed due to the "sophisticated nature of the incident".

Shoppers have been reassured that the data taken by the hackers did not include payment or card details, or account passwords.

In a social media post, Machin said there is "no need for customers to take any action".

"To give customers extra peace of mind, they will be prompted to reset their password the next time they visit or log on to their M&S account and we have shared information on how to stay safe online," he said.

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