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26|04|09

Recession Buster

With the UK facing a deepening recession, 2009 promises to be an extremely tough year for consumers up and down the country.

It's hard to open a newspaper these days without reading about more job cuts, banking problems or high street woes.

This has led to most of us tightening our belts and looking at ways we can trim the bills to save money.

But at the same time our lives are quite different from the last time we had to face a recession.

Practical advice

For a start, we're now spending far more time using communications services than we have ever done before.

But if you are feeling the pinch, or just worrying about the future, there are ways you can save money without having to miss out on services.

We've put together some practical advice on getting the best from your landline and mobile phone deals.

There’s also some information on switching between providers and the advantages and disadvantages of bundling – which is taking more than one service from the same provider.

Payment options

If you’re already having difficulty paying your monthly bills, don’t ignore the problem.

It’s important to get in touch with your service provider as soon as possible and explain the situation.

They may be able to move you to a cheaper deal and you will also be able to discuss different payment options.

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Landline deals

With so many different services and packages available it’s easy to become confused if you’re searching for a new deal or thinking of switching suppliers.

Our landline phone guide tells you what to look out for and what factors you need to take into account before signing up to a new deal.

It also explains the switching process and provides information on lower cost services – such as BT Basic.

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Mobile phones

Stuck with an expensive tariff and want to change or do you fancy moving from a contract to a prepay or SIM-only deal?

Our mobile phone guide will explain what to take into account when choosing a mobile phone package.

There’s also advice on how to reduce the costs of your calls abroad and information on taking your number with you when you switch from one provider to another.

But remember: if you’re thinking of changing to a new provider then check the strength of the various mobile phone company signals in your area first.

For example, if you want to use your phone to browse the internet then you’ll need to make sure there is a suitable 3G signal where you live.

Mobile phone coverage checker

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Switching and bundling

One way to cut down on your monthly bills is to switch to a new provider offering a better deal.

Read more on how Ofcom has made it easier for consumers to switch between providers.

You can also learn why taking a 'bundle' of services from one provider can often work out cheaper.

Switching

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The Government has launched the Real Help Now website which offers advice to businesses and people on how to deal with the recession.

 

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