Switch & save: energy, broadband, SIM and bank
Where a link is marked * or labelled Ad, it is a partner advertisement: we receive commission at no extra cost to you. Links without a * or Ad label earn us nothing. How we make money.
Quick answer: Switch the bill that is out of contract first: energy if you are on a standard variable tariff after the latest Ofgem cap, broadband if you are on a loyalty price, mobile once the handset is paid off, and your current account if a CASS switch plus bonus beats staying. Do not switch mid-contract if exit fees wipe the saving, and never pay a claims firm to do it.
Skip this if: Skip a switch if you cannot pay arrears (energy debt follows you), if you need a guaranteed engineer date this week, or if you are mid-mortgage application and a new current-account hard search would be unwise. This page is not a live price list.
UK comparison sites lead with live prices. Money Guide leads with the decision: whether switching beats staying, which official route is free, and when a labelled partner offer is even relevant. Work the four household switches in order of likely saving — energy, broadband, mobile, current account — using the guides this hub points to. Figures on those pages are dated; confirm live terms with the supplier or bank.
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In what order should you switch household bills?
Start with energy if you are on a default variable tariff after a cap rise — that is usually the largest monthly leak. Then broadband if you are out of contract, then mobile if the handset is paid off, then the current account if you actually want the old one closed.
Do not run all four in the same week if you have a mortgage application in flight: a new current account is a hard search. Energy and broadband do not hit your credit file the same way.
When should you stay put?
Stay if you are inside a cheap fix with a high exit fee, if a social tariff already undercuts the open market, or if you will move house before a new energy or broadband term ends.
Free official routes still win when they are cheaper than a partner link: Ofgem-accredited energy comparison, Ofcom switching rules, CASS without a bonus, and MoneyHelper for insurance. We name those even when we have a labelled offer in the same category.
| Bill | Usually switch if | Skip if | Start here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | On a standard variable tariff after the latest Ofgem cap | Already on a cheap fix, or you cannot pay arrears | Cheap energy deals |
| Broadband | Out of contract on a loyalty price | Exit fees wipe the saving, or you need an install this week | Broadband switching |
| Mobile | Handset paid off and the bill stayed high | You still owe handset instalments you cannot settle | SIM-only switching |
| Current account | You want the old account closed and CASS will move payments | You need to keep the old account, or you are mid-mortgage offer | Current Account Switch Service |
Where should you go next?
Common questions
- Does Money Guide earn commission if I switch?
- Only if you follow a link marked * or labelled Ad. Energy and broadband comparison on this hub is editorial; insurance links go to MoneyHelper and earn nothing. Lebara is a live partner SIM-only offer. Commission never ranks the checklist.
- Should I use a claims firm to switch energy or broadband?
- No. Switching is free via Ofgem-accredited sites, Ofcom One Touch Switch, or going direct. Paid claims firms do not wipe arrears and often charge for something you can do yourself.
- Will switching my bank hurt a mortgage application?
- A new current account usually means a hard search and a new account on your file. If a mortgage offer is in progress, wait until after completion unless your broker says otherwise.