How do you time switching to avoid cancellation / increased monthly costs?

CFELH

Apologies for the stupid question

My current contract ends on 25 March. When I last switched two years ago, I was able to specify the start date to align with the end of my existing contract.

As I understand it, these days - with most BB providers - its an automated 10–15 day process.

So, am I correct in thinking that if my switch takes place prior to the 25 March, I will have to pay any early termination fees (pro rata basis), and similarly, if the switch takes place after 25 March pay the increased monthly rate on my existing contract ?

iniltous

Personally I don’t think trying to get the changeover date to exactly coincide with the minimum term expiry is worth the hassle, done a day or two early , it’s minimal early termination charges, and done a day or two after the minimum term expires ( so a day or two at probably a higher rate with the existing provider ) is likely to only be a small amount , for example a deal going from £30 to £45 a month , is about an extra 50p per day , so two days ‘late’ is £1.
If you want to move 25 March , you want to be ordering with the new provider 11-15th March , but a change date anywhere between 23-27th March isn’t going to be much extra, plus, with being charged a full month and refunded for the days after the changeover , your last bill won’t be the Feb to March one anyway. 

CFELH

Excellent, many thanks.

HaroldWren5

CFELH said:

Apologies for the stupid question

My current contract ends on 25 March. When I last switched two years ago, I was able to specify the start date to align with the end of my existing contract.

As I understand it, these days - with most BB providers - its an automated 10–15 day process.

So, am I correct in thinking that if my switch takes place prior to the 25 March, I will have to pay any early termination fees (pro rata basis), and similarly, if the switch takes place after 25 March pay the increased monthly rate on my existing contract ?

Another thing to keep in mind, is that some providers still "require" 30 days notice. So always best to give 30 days notice if possible to minimise any costs to the old one. 

wongataa

HaroldWren5 said:

CFELH said:

Apologies for the stupid question

My current contract ends on 25 March. When I last switched two years ago, I was able to specify the start date to align with the end of my existing contract.

As I understand it, these days - with most BB providers - its an automated 10–15 day process.

So, am I correct in thinking that if my switch takes place prior to the 25 March, I will have to pay any early termination fees (pro rata basis), and similarly, if the switch takes place after 25 March pay the increased monthly rate on my existing contract ?

Another thing to keep in mind, is that some providers still "require" 30 days notice. So always best to give 30 days notice if possible to minimise any costs to the old one. 

Not with the switching process between ISPs that use the Openreach network.  You just sign up with the new ISP and they do all the work.  Switching from an Openreach ISP to Virgin or vice versa then yes you have to give notice as the switching service isn't there yet.  It is coming though.

HaroldWren5

wongataa said:

HaroldWren5 said:

CFELH said:

Apologies for the stupid question

My current contract ends on 25 March. When I last switched two years ago, I was able to specify the start date to align with the end of my existing contract.

As I understand it, these days - with most BB providers - its an automated 10–15 day process.

So, am I correct in thinking that if my switch takes place prior to the 25 March, I will have to pay any early termination fees (pro rata basis), and similarly, if the switch takes place after 25 March pay the increased monthly rate on my existing contract ?

Another thing to keep in mind, is that some providers still "require" 30 days notice. So always best to give 30 days notice if possible to minimise any costs to the old one. 

Not with the switching process between ISPs that use the Openreach network.  You just sign up with the new ISP and they do all the work.  Switching from an Openreach ISP to Virgin or vice versa then yes you have to give notice as the switching service isn't there yet.  It is coming though.

True! In theory of course. The problem is you don't want to give any of these companies any excuse whatsoever. Theoretically, the automated switching process should take care of everything. But you know how it is. If they overcharge you, trying to get a refund can be like trying to squeeze water from a stone and take up hours of your time to get your own money back. I recall a story in the press of how despite the switching process AND receiving the automated e-mails of BT acknowledging/confirming that a customer was leaving, two months into their new contract with the new broadband provider, a customer suddenly realised that BT had still been happily taking money via direct debit AFTER they had already left. And do Vodafone require 30 days even if you're out of contract, or is that just for mobiles?

I think the switching from FTTC to FTTP doesn't necessarily have a smooth switching process just yet. I agree though that theoretically the automated regulator mandated Openreach switching process should be smooth. And the less you have to talk (i.e. waste your own time with) to any of these customer service departments, the better. Thank goodness getting a PAC code became much simpler.