How does the broadband comparison service work? Looking for a great deal on your broadband?  Let firsthelpline.com help.  We show you different packages from the UK’s major broadband providers based on your needs.  If you’re not sure of something or you’re confused by industry jargon, there’s plenty of help and information on the website to make sure you’re fully informed before you apply.

How do I choose a broadband provider?

Once you’ve got an idea of what you want from your broadband package, the next step is to find a provider that offers the right package for you.  Our broadband comparison service will ask a few basic details about the type of product you’re after, such as the minimum speed and download limit.  If you’re going to be a light user and just want to surf the web or pick up emails, choose a lower speed or download limit; if you’re going to be playing games online or downloading videos regularly, choose something quicker, possibly with no download limit.

Our results table will show you the products that meet your needs, but there are other factors you might want to think about, such as:

•    The cost of the broadband package
•    The contract length for the broadband package
•    Other services included with your broadband
•    Support provided by the broadband supplier

The cost of the broadband package

The different costs for broadband that you need to consider (and are shown on our results table) include:

•    Activation fee or migration fee
•    Modem fee (if required)
•    Monthly charge
•    Discounts

In addition, you should consider line rental charges, which you’ll need to pay to your phone provider regardless of who you go with for your broadband.  This cost is included on our results table where bundled deals are shown.

The contract length for the broadband package

Most broadband deals come with a 12 month contract, which means you need to stay with the provider for a minimum of a year, or pay a penalty if you want to switch or stop your contract.  Some providers have special rules if you’re moving home and want to take your broadband with you, so look at the fine print of the contract.  A lot of the new ‘free’ broadband packages now come with 18 month contracts.

If you don’t want to tie yourself down to a long contract, then providers do offer short-term contracts such as 1 month.  Look at the fine print of the contracts though – while they may say they don’t tie you in, they may still charge you if you leave within a certain period.

Other services included with your broadband

There’s been lots of publicity recently about ‘free’ broadband offers.  In reality, these providers are bundling other services into the offer which they charge for, making the broadband ‘free’ only if you take another service.  These services usually include your home phone service, but are now also including digital TV and mobile phone contracts.  We show you these bundled offers separately from standalone broadband deals on our results page.

Support provided by the broadband supplier

Unless you’re an IT whizz kid, chances are you’ll need help at some stage with your broadband.  Look at what kind of support the new provider offers, either through email, web, or on the phone. If support is available on the phone, see how much they charge for each call, and what hours their call centre is open – you might end up paying quite a bit for being on hold!

Click here to start your broadband comparison >