Five major bills are set to increase for Britons in April as the new tax year begins. An expert has issued advice that could help you save cash during the transition as a high cost of living continues to bite. The increases include hikes to broadband, energy, mobile, water and Council Tax fees. Reports suggest the average household is spending £2,062 on essentials each month, and the coming weeks could add another £49.45 to outgoings.
The period has been dubbed “awful April”, and some of the UK’s biggest banks will be contacting customers they think are struggling with money. Home buyers also have just days left to complete deals before potentially being hit with thousands of pounds in extra stamp duty costs. Parliament’s spending watchdog has said that the Government should improve its response to future energy price spikes as Britons face “world-beatingly high” bills.
TotallyMoney CEO Alastair Douglas has dished out his advice.
Broadband
Mr Douglas said: “The five biggest broadband providers — BT, Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and Vodafone — are all hiking prices, so double check to see if you’re out of contract, and free to leave without facing cancellation fees.
“If you’re out of contract, then check the offers available both on comparison sites and go direct. That way you can make sure you’ll find the best deal available. If you want to stick with your current provider, then pick up the phone and haggle — they won’t want you to move to a competitor and should offer you a better deal.”
Energy
“Energy bills are going up again in April, but around 22 million households are on a standard variable rate, and could be free to find a better deal elsewhere,” Mr Douglas said.
“Although there aren’t as many offers available as there were a few years ago, there are some cheaper options available, so it’s worth shopping around to see if you can cut costs.
Just double check your existing agreement, because if you’re contract, you could face hefty early exit fees.”
Mobile
Mr Douglas said: “Over the next week, BT, EE, 02, Three, and Vodafone will all be hiking prices, but if you’re out of contract, then you’re free to leave and find a better deal at no additional cost.
“If you don’t know where you stand, then all you need to do is text ‘INFO’ to 85075, and you’ll receive a message telling if you can move, or if there are any charges.”
He added: “Loyalty doesn’t pay, and with one in three out of contract, millions of people could save hundreds of pounds.
“When looking for a new provider always shop around and consider smaller network providers who’ll often offer better deals and at lower prices.
“Just check the coverage before you sign up and remember that if you’re not happy with the network, you’ll have a minimum of 14 days to cancel without paying a penalty.”
Water
“Water suppliers will also be charging more from next week, and if you’re looking to cut costs without cutting usage, then it might be worth applying to have a water meter installed,” Mr Douglas said.
“And if your provider can’t provide you with one, then they must provide an ‘assessed charge’ which could also save you money.”
Council Tax
Mr Douglas said: “In some areas, Council Tax will increase by up to 10%, piling the pressure onto households around the UK.
“If you’re a full-time student, living alone, on a low income, or a carer, you could be eligible for a discount.
“You should also check that you’re in the right band — and challenge it if not.”
