My rights with fibre broadband when moving house

wongataa

IronstoneIzadora said:

I have the same problem with Shell Energy.  I currently have fibre with them, however my new property is Virgin only.

They have said unless I'm willing to pay a £200 exit charge, I have to take their 11mb broadband on a new 18 month contract.  Can they insist I have a new contract, so it will be another 18 months before I can switch to Virgin, instead of the remaining term of my current contract which is about 12 months?

You are breaking the contract you signed up to by moving.  The result is you have to pay it off the leave now or start a new one with the same ISP to avoid exit fees.  That is what you signed up to and will be pretty much the same with all ISPs.

mjm3346

Chino said:

Neil_Jones said:

Basically if you move to an area your supplier does not cover, you are breaking the agreement and you will be charged exit fees.  Simple as.

In the case of Sky Broadband, clause 10(c)(iii) of the the SKY BROADBAND AND SKY TALK Terms and Conditions states:

You can end this Contract without incurring early termination charges during your Minimum Term if:
...
(iii) Condition 4(b)(ii) applies (you are moving home and the Product you are subscribing to is not available at your new Address);

So not quite so "simple as".

BT as well if they don't offer a service at the new address

IronstoneIzadora

JJ_Egan said:

As above pay  the remaining months on your current contract that you agreed to .

But if only VM supply your new property how would Shell be able to supply a 11mb service ??

(They have said unless I'm willing to pay a £200 exit charge, I have to take their 11mb broadband on a new 18 month contract)

Unfortunately I can't afford to pay the £200. I'm having to move due to my current living situation affecting my mental health.

There is no Openreach fibre, only basic broadband, apparently, hence them only offering 11mb.

My concern about having to start a new contract for 18 months is being stuck with that one, when otherwise it would only be 12 months before I'm able to cancel it and switch to Virgin.

Neil_Jones

IronstoneIzadora said:

JJ_Egan said:

As above pay  the remaining months on your current contract that you agreed to .

But if only VM supply your new property how would Shell be able to supply a 11mb service ??

(They have said unless I'm willing to pay a £200 exit charge, I have to take their 11mb broadband on a new 18 month contract)

Unfortunately I can't afford to pay the £200. I'm having to move due to my current living situation affecting my mental health.

There is no Openreach fibre, only basic broadband, apparently, hence them only offering 11mb.

My concern about having to start a new contract for 18 months is being stuck with that one, when otherwise it would only be 12 months before I'm able to cancel it and switch to Virgin.

Well until BT upgrade your area for fibre, there's little more you can do.

So I would argue that if the £200 is the main concern that you can't afford it, then it may be prudent to take the new offer as you'd  effectively be spreading that £200 out over the next 18 months anyway.

Also be aware there is nothing to stop you moving provider before the 18 months is up subject to exit fees - after all slow(er) broadband is better than no broadband at all.  And of course if you have to move again the chances are higher than BT will be in the next area you go to - not 100% guaranteed, but more than likely.  Virgin not guaranteed in this department, think they only have something like 80% coverage.

anotheruser

If you leave [the house] without cancelling the contract, how would this work when a new person moves in and wants to set up broadband?
Surely another operator won't be able to and then the new home owner will be stuck?

JJ_Egan

Yes and OP would still be billed for the service .

jbuchanangb

My concern about having to start a new contract for 18 months is being stuck with that one, when otherwise it would only be 12 months before I'm able to cancel it and switch to Virgin.

This is probably the best you are going to get. You are breaking your current contract by moving, and TalkTalk are offering to waive the Early Termination Charges if you take a new contract. You could make one last try and ask TalkTalk if they could put you on a 12 month deal, but they might choose to charge you a higher monthly rate for the basic broadband. 

IronstoneIzadora

jbuchanangb said:

My concern about having to start a new contract for 18 months is being stuck with that one, when otherwise it would only be 12 months before I'm able to cancel it and switch to Virgin.

This is probably the best you are going to get. You are breaking your current contract by moving, and TalkTalk are offering to waive the Early Termination Charges if you take a new contract. You could make one last try and ask TalkTalk if they could put you on a 12 month deal, but they might choose to charge you a higher monthly rate for the basic broadband. 

thanks, I'll give that a go.