Source: NZ Compare
Site visitor traffic on Broadband Compare (https://www.broadbandcompare.co.nz/) surged nearly three times (174.3% growth week on week) following recent price rise announcements from major NZ telcos.
– Kiwi consumers could save between $100 to $400 a year by reviewing their broadband plan.
– Switching broadband providers is one of the quickest ways to reduce an ongoing household bill.
“With fuel prices sky high, power bills increasing over winter and grocery prices still climbing, switching broadband provider is one of the easiest ways Kiwis can reduce household expenses.”
That’s the message from NZ Compare (https://www.nzcompare.com/) as a growing number of broadband providers announce price increases across New Zealand.
Recent announcements from Spark (https://www.spark.co.nz/online/legal/price-increase) will see some customers paying between $2 and $13 more per month depending on their plan, while budget brand Skinny has also confirmed a $3 monthly increase for many customers.
According to NZ Compare CEO Gavin Male, many households are unaware that they may be paying significantly more than necessary for their broadband connection, but he is heartened to see some Kiwis doing something about it. Website traffic on Broadband Compare (https://www.broadbandcompare.co.nz/) jumped 174.3% over the last couple of days following the price increase announcements.
“Broadband is one of those bills that people often set and forget. The reality is that the largest providers are frequently among the most expensive in the market, and many customers could save substantial amounts simply by shopping around and switching providers.”
Male says switching fibre broadband providers today is far easier than many consumers realise.
“People still remember the early days of fibre installs when a technician needed to visit the property, cables were installed and the process could be disruptive. That’s simply not the case when you’re switching from one fibre provider to another.”
“In most cases there are no technician visits required, no changes to equipment inside the home, and little to no downtime during the changeover. The new provider handles the transfer process and customers are more often than not, connected seamlessly.”
NZ Compare (https://www.nzcompare.com/) estimates that households can save anywhere from $100 to $400 per year by moving to a more competitively priced broadband provider, or changing their plan to a slower speed, which is more suitable for their needs.
“At a time when families are feeling pressure from rising grocery bills, higher electricity costs and increased fuel prices, an extra few hundred dollars a year can make a real difference to the household budget.”
Male says consumers should also carefully review any recent email notifications from their current provider.
“If your broadband provider has increased prices since you signed up, they’ve changed the terms under which you originally agreed to the service. In many cases customers are able to leave without paying early termination fees or penalties because the provider has varied the agreement.”
“Consumers shouldn’t assume they’re trapped. If you’ve received a price rise notice, it’s worth checking your provider’s terms and exploring what’s available elsewhere.”
NZ Compare is encouraging Kiwis to spend just a few minutes reviewing their broadband bill and comparing plans.
“Broadband is now an essential household service, but that doesn’t mean you should accept paying more than necessary. Comparing providers takes only a few minutes and switching is often surprisingly simple.”
“With so many household costs increasing, broadband is one area where consumers still have real power to vote with their feet. If customers don’t shop around, providers have little incentive to keep prices competitive. The good news is that changing providers has never been easier.”
About NZ Compare:
NZ Compare ( www.nzcompare.com) operates a suite of comparison websites to help Kiwis make a fully informed choice on all their purchases, covering everything from Broadband to Power, Mobile phones to dishwashers. NZ Compare sites are free to use and are visited by over 300,000 Kiwis every month.