Ever thought that a monthly broadband deal seemed perfect only to later discover that taking the cheap option actually costs more in the long run? Sometimes, the cheaper broadband deals are only cheap because they take shortcuts and charge for things that the more expensive monthly packages will give you for free. That doesn't mean that cheap broadband deals are all bad though, you just need to be able to identify the warning signs when looking for a new broadband deal, so you don't fall victim to the traps some providers use to 'reel in' new customers. This broadband guide

explains some of the most important things to consider when comparing broadband deals and looking for a provider that offers good value for money.

No hardware is ever 100% free - Remember that even if you're being offered something for free, you're eventually paying for it in terms of higher monthly costs or longer term contracts. A good example of this is mobile broadband with free laptop deals. Sure, you get the laptop without having to spend any money outright, but your actually monthly charge for the broadband is double what you would pay without the laptop, so you are essentially still paying for the hardware. It's important to always try and figure out how whatever 'free' stuff you're getting is putting up the costs of your monthly bill, so you know what you're paying for. This doesn't mean that every free laptop deal is a bad choice, only that you should be aware that you do end up paying for the laptop, eventually.

Fair use and download penalties - Many of the cheaper broadband deals can offer such good prices because they place strict limits on how much you can use the service. Even more expensive packages can limit your usage though, so the best defence against having to pay out more in penalties is to find out as much as you can about a suppliers fair usage policy and bandwidth limits. Limits aren't always bad things, and they can actually help you to save money providing you're aware of the amount you've used and aren't likely to ever go over the limits. In general though, it's best to give yourself a generous buffer when it comes to choosing a bandwidth limit, as it's better to be paying slightly more for bandwidth you don't use than a lot more for bandwidth you do.

Unbundled Phone Services (LLU) - A lot of the cheap providers like TalkTalk and Sky manage to keep their prices so low because they connect their customers to their own networks rather than paying out to BT to rent part of the phone network. These networks use a technology called Local Loop Unbundling (LLU), which means that you can receive a service from these providers through your existing phone line without having to pay out any extra money to BT. Switching to LLU is free, but if you want to come back to BT after that, you could be paying out a ton of money to get reconnected.