A fibre provider without early cancellation charge if they can't supply new address

20190321

TL;DR What fibre providers DO NOT apply an early cancellation charge if we move and they can't supply at the new address?

We've been thinking about moving abroad for years, and we are more and more reluctant to sign up to any sort of minimum period contracts. However, we do need to upgrade our broadband. One of the factors in choosing a provider is what happens if we do move. If the right opportunity turns up, we're going to go whatever happens, but we want to minimize the cost if we can.

I had a look at the T&Cs from a handful of providers, and it seems that the standard practice is to have a section about moving home, and then a paragraph about "what if they can't supply at the new address". It seems that Plusnet does apply the early cancellation charge, but Post Office doesn't. Quote below is from the PO's current Ts&Cs (20th Jan 2021):

15.7 If we can’t switch all or part of your Service and/or you do not agree to transfer to another Service, we will cancel the Service from the date 15 days after you tell us about your move. This Agreement will be terminated, and any Charges paid in advance for the service which is no longer available to you will be refunded. This is unless the only reason we cannot continue to provide the Service is because you do not agree to install a new telephone line, in which case you may have to pay us an Early Termination Charge.

Can someone please read the quote above and confirm my understanding of the PO Ts&Cs? Does my thinking make sense at all? Am I missing something important? Naturally I am relying on a basic assumption that UK providers are not going to run a cable to follow us across the Channel:-)

Neil_Jones

There'll be a difference between moving to another house in the UK that they can't supply or you choose not to take, and between moving to France.  I would argue the quoted clause only applies if you were in the UK.

Browntoa

Now TV broadband has a no contract option , cost slightly more per month than a 12 months contract

Zellah

Choosing a provider which offers broadband (FTTC) on a 30 day contract is your best bet, such as IDNet.
Wrt Post Office, they will only let you leave penalty free if they cannot supply the service at another UK address you're moving to - but if you tell them you're moving abroad they will almost certainly hit you with early termination fees, if applicable. Otherwise people would be using the overseas address loophole to avoid paying any cancellation charges if it was that easy. Alternatively consider mobile broadband (4G/5G) on short term contract.

20190321

Thank you all for your responses.

Zellah said:

Wrt Post Office, they will only let you leave penalty free if they cannot supply the service at another UK address you're moving to - but if you tell them you're moving abroad they will almost certainly hit you with early termination fees, if applicable.

Neil_Jones said:

There'll be a difference between moving to another house in the UK that they can't supply or you choose not to take, and between moving to France.  I would argue the quoted clause only applies if you were in the UK.

The fact that you both say this means you are probably both right. However, do you not think I could argue T&Cs never say the rules only apply to moving within the UK?

I assume they are partly relying on the fact there will be extremely few places in the UK they can't supply, but I hope I am not totally unreasonable: if they are prepared to let me off if I move somewhere in the UK, why then penalize me if the place I move is not in the UK?

Zellah

The reason they’ve got that particular clause in their t&c’s is because there’s very very few places in the UK where they are NOT able to supply any kind of broadband service therefore hardly anybody will be able to use that particular clause to leave penalty free. I am almost 100% certain that clause doesn’t apply to those moving overseas. Why not take out broadband on a shorter 30 day contract for peace of mind? Otherwise in your quest to save a few pennies each month by taking out broadband on a longer contract, you will end up paying more if you are hit with early termination charges. Is it really worth the risk?

Neil_Jones

20190321 said:

Thank you all for your responses.

Zellah said:

Wrt Post Office, they will only let you leave penalty free if they cannot supply the service at another UK address you're moving to - but if you tell them you're moving abroad they will almost certainly hit you with early termination fees, if applicable.

Neil_Jones said:

There'll be a difference between moving to another house in the UK that they can't supply or you choose not to take, and between moving to France.  I would argue the quoted clause only applies if you were in the UK.

The fact that you both say this means you are probably both right. However, do you not think I could argue T&Cs never say the rules only apply to moving within the UK?

I assume they are partly relying on the fact there will be extremely few places in the UK they can't supply, but I hope I am not totally unreasonable: if they are prepared to let me off if I move somewhere in the UK, why then penalize me if the place I move is not in the UK?

Post Office only supply to the UK.  If you don't live in the UK they can't supply you.  So you'll end up terminating the agreement early because you are technically moving to a place they can't supply.  No they can't stretch a cable over the Channel just to connect you in Normandy

Post Office delivers its services over Openreach lines.  These would come under whatever the equivalent is in France/Spain/Germany telephone companies.  Openreach does not extend to Europe.

I would say if you want to have an argument over it with the Post Office, take it to a court and see what they say, but I would not be surprised if a judge says the terms of the agreement if you shove off to France then you're not in the UK and you owe them the fees.  Or just don't move until you're out of contract and problem is solved.

20190321

Thank you all once again, gutted to see what you're all saying but it was probably worth it bouncing the idea off the community here.
With my luck, if I do go for a monthly rolling contract, the move won't work out (global economic meltdown etc) and I will be paying the extra for another couple of years. And if I go for a 12 month contract, I will get a job offer abroad the day the cooling off period ends.
I think I might just ring our current provider of several years (sky) and see if they can knock anything off our current bill without signing up for a minimum term. I'm not really holding my breath though, why would they? If I threaten to leave, they will ask what deal I'm going for, and I bet they will only match other deals on the market (so either pricey rolling contract or cheaper but with a minimum term - which is how I extended my sky deal twice now). Any negotiation ideas would be welcome though.