A study has found that an estimated 8 million people have been stung by hidden charges by their broadband providers which is costing on average £44 per year to those affected.
The charges come as a result of different things for the 1 in 6 people who are affected. 44% of those affected is because of having paper billing, 24% are through people not using direct debit payments while technical support lines and excess usage over download limits both affect 17%!
The research was done by MoneySupermarket.com who also compiled a table of what some of the broadband providers charge.
|
Broadband
Provider |
Non Direct
Debit Payment |
Paper Billing
|
Activation
Charges |
|
BT
|
£1.50 per month
£4.50 per quarter |
£1.25
|
n/a
|
|
Sky
|
£0.50 per month
|
n/a
|
£25 if no active BT line
|
|
Talk Talk
|
Direct Debit payments only
|
£1.25
|
£29.99
|
|
Tiscali
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
£30 (if taking free line rental offer)
Broadband & Phone |
|
Virgin
|
£5
|
£1.25
|
n/a
|