Direct Save promises cheapest phone line reactivation and installation fees

The telephone and broadband provider says it undercuts the rest, but does it?

Direct Save Telecom claims it has thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the broadband market with its new low-cost installation fees.

It says it will reactivate any old phone line for free if you sign up to an 18-month contract for £1.95 a month, plus £15.75 a month line rental (£9.95 if you pay in advance). For that, you get unlimited broadband usage, free evening and weekend calls, a free wireless router and free set-up.

Lines can be reactivated on a chosen date or on the next working day. There is, however, a £24.95 set-up fee and an £8.95 postage and packing fee for the router.

Direct Save will also install a line for a very reasonable £29.95 on the 18-month deal.

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Is it a better deal than the rest?

But how does these offers stack up against some of the UK's biggest providers? We've put together a handy table to help you see at a glance.

Provider	Line activation fee	New phone line charge (if applicable)	Total
Primus	Free	£59	£59
Plusnet	Free	£49.95	£49.95
TalkTalk	£30	£50	£80
Virgin Media	None applied	£49.95	£49.95
Sky	£39	£39	£78.99
Direct Save Telecom	Free	£29.95	£29.95
BT (online)	£50	£50	£100
Tesco	None	£35	£35
EE	None	£30	£30

As you can see, other budget providers like Primus and Plusnet also offer free installation so it doesn’t really stand out as Direct Save’s unique selling point. Virgin Media offer it as well.

I’d say that Direct Save's low monthly cost is the real attraction of this new deal, although Plusnet is offering a similar broadband and calls bundle for £2.50 a month, providing you live in certain parts of the UK. Its line rental is £15.95 a month but your only set-up fee is likely to be a router delivery fee of £5.99.

If you're looking for a new broadband and phone deal, see what's on offer in your area via our comparison partner Broadband Choices.

Student and short-term lets

Direct Save Telecom also offer a 28-day rolling contract meaning no obligation for short-term tenants. The only snag is that it’s a hefty £118 to put in a new line. Ouch. Though it’s quite a jump, it’s still a little cheaper than standard installation.

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What do you make of this new deal? Tell us in the Comments section below.

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