 Many of the people I speak to are extremely dissatisfied with customer service from the big broadband companies and as a consequence are reluctant to move to another service provider fearing "more of the same". But there's another, major issue with broadband. Most businesses will lock you in to a contract that lasts for 18 to 24 months. However, you might not have noticed a key contract clause. This allows a broadband business to raise the price you pay each month at a set point mid-contract. This is usually every April. In the past, several providers have raised the amount you pay far higher than Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation - usually the rate of inflation plus an additional 3.9% or 3.7%. The CPI is the main measure of inflation – the change in the cost of a typical basket of goods and services – which is curren){kind=link}
Consumer champion Martyn James is issuing a warning to millions of households: check your broadband deal now before huge price hikes come into force next year
How do you define an essential service? It goes without saying that water and heating top the list of things people literally can’t do without.
But increasingly, broadband is becoming vital for millions of people too. You may be working from home more often.
Your family might be reliant on a good Wi-Fi signal to communicate, especially if you’re keeping in touch with someone older more vulnerable, or someone who lives in a rural area not served so well by phone signals.
And with analogue TV a distant memory, you’ll need broadband to stream television, operate gadgets and access essential services through the internet, from benefits to bank accounts.