End of Contract - Disconnection Fee??!!!!

Y2005J

Ive just been contacted by my provider, UW (use them for elec, phone, broadband and mobile) and been told the contract is finishing for broadband. If i choose to move another provider i have to pay them £10 as a charge for "disconnecting". I've never seen this before with any previous provider. It sounds like some kind of scam?! Anyone got any idea if this is even legal? thanks in advance

oldernonethewiser

I presume the minimum term is ending.

They have, on their T&Cs, a disconnection fee of £10.

littleboo

It seems they do charge a disconnection fee, its in the current schedule of charges
Is that what you signed up to?

Y2005J

wow! what a scam, thanks for the reply.

BoGoF

Y2005J said:

wow! what a scam, thanks for the reply.

It would only really be a scam if they hadn't notified you of the charge when you signed up. You agreed to these terms.

Kim_13

Just because a term is in a contract does not mean that it is fair - it just means a court hasn’t found it unfair/it hasn’t been banned yet. Shell broadband used to have such a fee but I believe that they no longer do, probably because the average consumer wouldn’t expect to have to pay any fees to switch provider having seen out the minimum contract period. It’s pretty dubious to me.

Hoenir

Y2005J said:

It sounds like some kind of scam?

Purely to cover the cost of a few minutes of someone's time and their on costs. 

Doirset2Aus

I am just in discussion with UW over changing BB provider at the end of my contract and, yes, the £10 disconnection fee still applies, and yes it is part of the contract Ts & Cs.  It may be legal, but it is certainly a "gouge" charge for a few simple keystrokes. :-(
Those about to take out a UW contract please be warned.