Find out how to avoid paying over the odds for your broadband when your contract ends…
When you first sign up for a new broadband deal, one of the last things you’ll probably think about is what to do when your contract comes to an end. After all, it can be quite a considerable amount of time before you really need to consider it, especially if you’ve chosen a 24-month deal.
However, the reality is that if you don’t give it some thought nearer its end, you can risk being moved onto a costly rolling agreement or one which ties you into something more expensive.
That said, there are now regulations in place for providers which means they should give you a heads up about when your contract is going to end and what options you have – but again, some of us can miss this or forget they need to take action.
So to help you out with this situation, in this guide we’ve explained everything you need to know about what options you have and what you can do when your broadband contract is ending – which should be enough to help you avoid any unexpected increased bills.What does it mean to be ‘out of contract’?
In simple terms, being ‘out of contract’ with your broadband means that the agreement you made with your provider has now ended and the previous terms no longer apply.
Typically, this will see you start paying a different monthly rate but you’ll keep the same services. But, this can vary from provider to provider.Ofcom’s ‘End of Contract Notification’ rules
You shouldn’t get caught out by your contract expiring though, even if you’ve forgotten when your broadband contract is meant to end. This is because in February 2020, the UK communications regulator, Ofcom, introduced new rulings that demand our internet service providers (ISPs) give us notice that our contracts are coming to an end.
These are now known as ‘end-of-contract notifications’ (ECN) and they are meant to include/cover the following information for customers:
when your contract ends;
the price you’ve been paying until now, and what you’ll pay when your contract is up;
any notice period for leaving your provider;
your provider’s best deals, including any prices only available to new customers.
