Survey finds home internet service have gone through the roof

Recent research has found that in the last year internet and phone services within the home has got more expensive, but even with the rise in costs many households find it hard to search for an improved deal using comparison websites.

A large proportion of Australians find it too complicated to search for cheaper deals even with household internet and phone service costs getting more and more expensive over the last year, according to findings from a new survey.

It was revealed from the research carried out on behalf of the Telecommunications company AAPT that one in every three households in Australia were having to pay more for their internet and telephone services, with monthly bills since February last year increasing on average by $44.

AAPT said that internet and mobile services were where most of the extra money was being spent.

Than Shannon, an AAPT spokeswoman said “It’s becoming clear that Australians don’t consider broadband and mobile phones discretionary purchases. These are increasingly deemed necessities, and households are struggling to keep up with home telecommunications costs.”

Family budgets were seriously burdened by the cost of keeping up with the latest technology, according to just below 40 percent of surveyed households. Also, in order maintain better control of their bills a third of all households said that they placed restrictions on their use of internet and phone services.

The research also found that half of Australians rarely or never search for the best deal available, even with the price of internet and phone bills increasing. Two out of three people surveyed said that comparing offers between competing telcos was too difficult.

Ms Shannon said “Although it takes some time and effort to understand contracts and the different options available, it’s worthwhile and will save families a lot of anguish and money in the long term.”