Our story begins with the dawn of the Golden Age of Free Broadband. Providers offer free, unlimited, always-on fast internet access with your phone line. But there is more to this than meets the eye...

First of all, if you think your broadband is truly unlimited, you may have been misled by your provider. By definition, the word 'unlimited' conjures up images of being able to download what you want, when you want, with no extra costs.

But in the real world, this isn't necessarily the case. Most of the companies who claim to give unlimited connection do actually impose a limit on your downloading in the form of a Fair Usage Policy. This means that your internet usage is monitored and if you are seen to be using more than your share of bandwidth, you are asked to curb it. If you don't, you may find you're charged for your extra usage.

Our second suspect is the call charges. If something goes wrong with your broadband, what do you do? Not everybody knows enough about internet technology to be able to sort out any problems, so a glitch in your connection may require a marathon phone call to a service desk somewhere in the world, and this can work out extremely expensive. Some broadband providers offer free calls to their helplines, but not all, so check the small print.

The third culprit is hardware and repair charges. Usually you aren't charged for a standard modem, but if you require a wireless router or a more top-range modem, you could end up spending much more than you bargained for. And if your modem breaks, will you be charged for a replacement?

If you have broadband, a good security system on your PC is essential. The bare minimum needed is anti-virus software, and firewalls never hurt anybody except the fraudsters they stop. Security comes at a price however, and if your broadband package doesn't include protection, you could end up paying minimum 40 for a basic package.

The hidden charge that trips most people up is the cancellation fee. If you have a good service and no problems this won't be an issue, but if you want to switch providers before your minimum contract is up, you could be slapped with a hefty charge. And beware of providers that claim 'no minimum contract', many of them still charge you if you leave within 12 months. You may even be charged if you move house but want to stay with the same provider. Again, check the small print.

The moral of our story is that cheap broadband isn't always best broadband. Go for a package that suits you, based on your needs as a user. If your tech knowledge is minimal, look for cheap or free tech support. If you're a heavy downloader, go for a higher download limit. Shop around and eventually, you and your modem will live happily ever after.

Want broadband? Find cheap broadband by comparing broadband providers online.

J Tillotson is a UK author specialising in technology and communications.

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