Coming to an end…
It’s easy to totally lose track about when your contract is up for renewal. And once you are out of contract, if you don’t take any action you’ll be put on a higher monthly rate as your initial deal will no longer apply. According to Ofcom, the average increase is 20% more.
This is why Ofcom have put rules in place to help customers. It’s now the law that every broadband, phone, and pay-TV provider must contact customers 10-40 days before their contract ends to let them know the end date and the price this will then switch to.
Once notified, you’re not obliged to do anything. In fact, Ofcom says there are currently around 7.4 million broadband customers out of contract and just carrying on. But this is a costly option that gains you nothing. So, don’t be one of those silent stayers.
Stay, but negotiate
One option is to stay with your current provider. But don’t stay put without speaking to your provider and negotiating a new deal.
Before you contact them, compare the market and see what other deals are offering. Look at speeds and prices, work out what you need and what’s being advertised. Having relative numbers to hand can help. Use this as your negotiating tool, so when you ring up you can say you want to leave unless they can offer you something similar. Choose to speak to the ‘I’m thinking of leaving' department as they are the best people to help get you what you want.
Tell them your budget, be polite and don’t be afraid to say, ‘Is that the very best you can do?’
Compare deals first before ringing with our useful broadband comparison tool.
Find out what speed you need with our find your perfect broadband speed feature.
Switch and save
If you have remained with the same provider each year, then it’s likely you are spending more than you need to. Even though you can try haggling, it’s generally more rewarding to actually switch broadband providers once your contract has ended. Providers tend to offer their very best deals to brand new customers, meaning that you can often get faster speeds for a lower price.
Don’t let the thought of ‘it’s too much hassle’ put you off either. Thanks to the latest ‘one-touch switching’ process introduced by Ofcom in 2024, switching has got much easier. Once you’ve found a new deal, these days there’s no need to contact your old provider to give notice and cancel, your new provider does all of that for you.
See our latest deals and make the switch.
No notification?
If you haven’t received a notification you’ll probably still be in contract. You can check on your contract status by asking your provider – over the phone or livechat – or by logging into your account online. Here are our list of provider contact details if you’re eager to get started.
You may also be able to find your contract end date via your provider’s app or by checking a bill. If you’re getting to the end of your contract some new providers will even help you leave a bit early by covering your contract exit fees.
