Don’t be an April fool: join the almost four in ten Brits haggling on their bills
Research reveals the average bill haggler saved £106.75 in 2024
With broadband and mobile phone prices set to rise on April 1st for millions of Brits, the experts at Go.Compare Broadband are urging bill payers to put their negotiation skills to the test.
Research from the comparison site found that nearly four in ten (39%) Brits have already haggled their bills due to the cost-of-living crisis, while a further 28% plan to do so soon.*
The survey also revealed that successful hagglers saved an average of £106.75 in 2024, with those aged 35 to 45 securing the biggest average savings of £132.01.*
Regionally, those living in the North East of England are leading the way, with residents saving an average of £153.80, followed by the East of England (£133.27) and the East Midlands (£119.94).
When asked which bills they successfully negotiated, broadband and TV topped the list with 48% of respondents saying they’d managed to reduce the cost**:
|
Product |
% who haggled on their bills** |
|
Broadband, TV |
48% |
|
Mobile phone contract |
38% |
|
Car insurance |
37% |
|
Home insurance |
32% |
|
Energy |
30% |
|
Credit card |
15% |
|
Pet insurance |
14% |
|
Mortgage or rent costs |
13% |
|
Other insurance costs |
12% |
|
Prefer not to say |
6% |
|
Other, please specify |
3% |
Nathan Blackler, spokesperson for Go.Compare Broadband, commented: “It’s really encouraging to see that so many people are haggling on their bills, but it’s clear that some don’t realise the power a simple phone call could make. As our research shows, negotiating can save you over £100 on your bills, and it’s also a good opportunity to check you’re getting the best deal from your provider.
“With millions facing price hikes from April 1st, now is the perfect time to review your outgoings and see where you could be overpaying. If you feel nervous about haggling, we’ve put together our top tips to haggle with your broadband provider:
- Do your homework: Research better deals elsewhere, especially if they offer faster broadband speeds and make a note so you have the details in front of you when you call.
- Highlight any issues: If you’ve experienced slow speeds, dropped signals or poor service, mention it while negotiating.
- Get it on record: If you’re offered a great deal, write it down and repeat it back to confirm. Calls are recorded, so having written proof helps avoid any misunderstandings, so if your written confirmation says something different, this stands you in the best stead to contest it.
- Don’t feel rushed: Some salespeople may push you to accept an offer straight away, but take your time. And remember, if you find yourself agreeing to a contract you aren’t sure about, you have the legal right to cancel the contract within 14 days.***”
For more tips on how to haggle on your broadband and get the best deal, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/broadband/how-to-haggle-and-get-the-best-deals/
Contact Information
Rubie Barker
Notes to editors
*The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2004 UK Nationally Representative Consumers. The data was collected between 24.01.2025 - 27.01.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
**A sample of 789 who say the cost of living crisis encouraged them to haggle on any of their financial outgoings
***Legislation.gov.uk, Part 3: Right to Cancel of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, correct as of 2 December 2024.
For further information please contact: Lynsey Walden – lynsey.walden@gocompare.com Kath Chadwick – Kathryn.chadwick@gocompare.com
Or you can call 02920 020360. Keep up-to-date with Go.Compare on X (Twitter); @Go.Compare
About Go.Compare
Go.Compare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.
It does not charge people to use its services and does not accept advertising or sponsored listings, so all product comparisons are unbiased. Go.Compare makes its money through fees paid by the providers of products that appear on its various comparison services when a customer buys through the site.
When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.
Go.Compare has remained dedicated to helping people choose the most appropriate products rather than just the cheapest and works with Defaqto, the independent financial researcher, to integrate additional policy information into a number of its insurance comparison services. This allows people to compare up to an extra 30 features of cover.
Go.Compare is part of Future Plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). More information can be found here www.gocompare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/.