When to Take Out a New Broadband Contract

karl10247

Hello All,

I am trying to understand WHEN the optimal time to take out a new broadband contract before an existing contract comes to an end. Optimal means best for the pocket i.e.

• No time / minimal time double paying for two contracts paying
• No early exit fees
• No/minimal time out of contract paying a higher rate.

I am wondering:
Is there a grace period when you can leave a contract early without penalty?
Can new contracts be taken out to start in the future?
Both of these would allow us to to take advantage of time sensitive broadband deals that may expire before our renewal date rather than waiting until the exact day of expiry when you may have to wait (on the expensive out of contract rate) until a new offer arises.

I have not seen clear advise on this topic on MSE so hoping the people can help me.

Thankyou

Neil_Jones

If you're staying with the same provider it probably doesn't matter about exit fees as they may get waived anyway if you're close enough.

If you're moving provider just pick somebody and you'll get shifted usually in 14-17 days.  If it straddles a new billing period you'll get the credit back, but you'll just be charged for the days of the crossover.

exit fees are pro-rata to end of your contract.

iniltous

If you are switching providers, but both are using the same network ( Openreach for example ) you pick a new provider, they organise the switch, you don’t contact your current provider, and as stated this typically takes 10-14 days , so obviously to minimise any early termination charges from the provider you are leaving , the new provider should be contacted by you around 10-14 days before the minimum term expires, go earlier than this and ETC will apply , but a few days early or late ( so you pay the out of contract price for a few days ) probably won’t amount to much, so personally I wouldn’t fixate on a particular date , within a day or two will be fine.

If both ISP are on OR , you do not pay twice , whatever the day one service stops is the day the new service starts so no double billing , as already stated , you may pay for a whole month to the old provider, but are refunded for any days that you paid for after the changeover.

If  using different networks, so going from OR network to Virgin ( for example ) you manage the swap yourself, and it’s possible that both providers may overlap and you pay for both for a time , that’s up to you to try and get the first service to stop on the same day the new service starts.

You ask , ‘Can you organise a switch in advance ? ‘  , you would have to ask the gaining provider that question, but they may take an order and say they will submit it on a particular day , but I would be a bit wary of this as ( obviously ) they have an incentive to tell you anything to get you to join them , obviously if the changeover happens earlier than you expected and requested , the old provider will still charge you ETC if they are due , even if you never wanted to change that early , but you may be able to get a credit off the new company to cover the ETC, if it’s their fault the changeover was done earlier than you wanted