Cynon Valley

Switch things up – it may be easier than you think

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The impact of the energy price rises hit home this week, as bills with big price hikes started to be sent out. I know this is a real concern for everybody.

One of the most frustratin­g things about energy price rises is switching providers is off until things settle down.

This won’t last forever though, and you should be able to move to a better deal in the coming weeks or months. But in the meantime, there are other things you can switch to save some cash.

As with all switches, shop around online first to see what deals are out there. Comparison sites are useful but bear in mind not all the deals might be on there.

Speak to friends and family to get their recommenda­tions too.

BROADBAND

Lots of people have been reluctant to switch broadband providers during the pandemic. After all, this service is essential for home workers, kids studying and most importantl­y, leisure and entertainm­ent. But you can save loads of money by switching – and many people will not have realised that they are out of contract and free to leave.

Are you on a bundle? Most of us have a mix of broadband, TV/ streaming and landline services.

Check out what you’re on before you get started and bear in mind some things – like your TV options – might change.

You can switch really easily if both old and new broadband provider use BT’s Openreach network. Just tell your new provider you’re good to go and they’ll arrange the transfer for you.

If you switch to a different network (like Virgin, for example) you need to notify both old and new providers of services. Make sure you check if you have to return items like routers.

Have a think about how long you want to be tied down.

Broadband and bundle contracts often lean towards two years, but if you have had a bad experience in the past, why not go for a year or 18 months so you can bail if you’re not happy?

MOBILE PHONES

New OFCOM rules mean that if your minimum contract has expired, you no longer need to phone up and ask for a mysterious ‘PAC’ (porting authorisat­ion code)’ code then jump through tons of complicate­d hoops to switch providers. You just need to send a text. Here’s how it works.

If you want to switch to another company and keep your phone number text PAC to 65075.

You’ll then get the PAC code you need to move to another provider – valid for 30 days. If any exit/early terminatio­n fees apply they have to tell you about this too. If you’re not bothered about keeping your old number you can text STAC to 75075 to request a code that allows you to do the same thing.

The rules ban some fees associated with switching but the hefty charges for getting out of your contract early still abound. Of course, if you feel you’ve been misled by the firm or they’ve failed to switch you in time, you can make a complaint.

BANK ACCOUNTS

Bank account switching is also easier than you’d think – and many have introducto­ry gifts and offers.

The old process could take up to a month and often resulted in direct debits not being paid or other errors. So the rules were tightened massively a few years back. Here’s how it works.

Find a bank you like the look of. There’s loads of comparison informatio­n out there so check to see what services are on offer.

Look for interest rates, customer service reviews (there’s just been a big survey on the best and worst banks this week) and overdraft charges before deciding.

Tell your new bank you want to switch accounts, fill in a simple form and provide ID.

The banks then have a maximum of seven working days to transfer everything over, including payments, debits, the works.

Resolver can help you sort out complaints about pretty much anything. See resolver.co.uk

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 ?? ?? A simple text can start the process of switching your phone provider
A simple text can start the process of switching your phone provider

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