3 Things the Big Broadband Providers Don’t Want You to Know
Big broadband providers can be well known for their broken promises and shady contracts. It is often that they will say one thing, but it means another. This is where Gigabit comes in…
While you could always switch to Gigabit Networks for a hassle-free, price fixed contract, we know sometimes people are stuck in their broadband contracts for months or even years without the option to switch.
So, if you’re currently in a contract and can’t switch to Gigabit, or looking at a contract with one of the big providers, we’ve put together a list of 3 things they don’t want you to know.
We hope these tips can help you to better understand broadband contracts and where you can get caught out.
The ‘working hours’ trick
Big providers such as Virgin are well-known for using the ‘working hours’ trick. By using this, broadband providers can offer a ‘72 working hours fix’ or ’48 working hours install’ this way it may look as though you can expect your fix in 3 days or install in two days.
This is a simple way that providers will attempt to catch you out. In reality, a 72 working hour fix equates to about 9 days, which of course they wouldn’t want to tell you.
So, while you may enter your contract thinking the wait times will be reasonable, when the time for your fix comes, you will quickly realise that your provider has used sly wording to catch you out!
They’re selling you ‘fibre broadband’ that isn’t really fibre broadband
Big providers love to throw the term ‘fibre broadband’ around.
As a consumer, it’s hard to know about all of the complicated telecommunication’s jargon, so of course, you’re going to take what the big brands say as the truth.
Actually, fibre broadband as you know it, is probably what we like to call ‘fake fibre’.
Fake fibre uses a part-fibre connection where the cabling from the exchange to the street cabinet is made from fibre and the cabling from the street cabinet to your home is actually copper. This intereferes with your connection, slows it down and shares it with your street.
The CityFibre infrastructure (used by Gigabit Networks) is completely made up of pure fibre, all the way from the exchange and straight to your home.
Pure fibre is where the true magic happens and where you can get insanely fast speeds that also reduce your impact on the environment!
For more on the relation between pure fibre and the environment read our blog Purefibre broadband – your path to a greener home.
Your monthly bill is probably going to increase
You’re not naïve for thinking that the price you agree to pay for your broadband per month would stay the same throughout your entire contract.
Of course, prices may increase in line with inflation when you switch to a new contract but surely the big providers wouldn’t just bump costs up on you mid-contract?
Unfortunately, they would…
In fact, this has probably happened to you already.
As of the 1st of April, you may have noticed your broadband or mobile bill increase by as much as 11% due to inflation rates.
If you want to know if your provider can do this or not it’s important to read your terms and conditions. If you agree to the terms and conditions of a contract that states that it may increase your bill, then unfortunately you must pay that increase.
Certain providers, including us, have a promise that we won’t increase your prices mid-contract. That means, no matter what, you can expect to pay the exact same bill every month. No uncertainty. No sly contracts. Just good, honest speeds.