Moving home - broadband - have to renew 24 month contract?

tpv01

I moved from my property into short-term rented accommodation while major work was done on the house. I took my broadband with me which was originally with TalkTalk who were acquired by Utility Warehouse. When that move happened the contract was renewed for another 24 months. For my move back less than 12 months later there is no choice UW say than to renew the 24 month contract again at the original property. I would like to get off this contract and explore my options. The service is ok but it is not the cheapest at £30 pm and i would like to try for other deals and maybe even try Starlink.

Is it right that every time there is a home move the contract has to renew for another 24 months?

la531983

Most seem to be 24 months, yes.

Other providers will buy you out up to a certain amount (although Starlink wont do this)

iniltous

Depends completely on the provider , there is no compulsion to make it necessary to start a new minimum term , many do require the customer to restart a new minimum term , probably the majority of ISP do this , but others don’t , they simply keep the same minimum term the customer already had , but it’s applied to the new address ( once the customer moves into it ) …you still have a choice , to pay ETC for exiting the contract early at the address you are leaving , and then chose whoever you like at the new address , but obviously any cost savings by picking a cheaper provider at the new address may be lost if the early termination charges are more than the savings , but that’s not your current provider’s problem.

…..the fact that some providers not apply a new minimum term and just maintain the term already in place doesn’t help you , as you are bound by the terms of the company you did pick (albeit you picked TT and were handed over to UW without them asking you if you agreed ) , if you move addresses regularly it may be something to consider next time .

southsidergs

Saying talk talk are expensive then saying wanting to maybe even try starlink in same post who are more expensive!

tpv01

It seems strange with the renter's rights bill I can get out of a 12-month tenancy with just a month notice but my broadband provider has me in handcuffs for more than 24 months. Not sure how that it is beneficial for the consumer. It seems that 12 month contracts were the norm (for mobile phones too) and that has migrated. Companies that offered reasonable prices for 12 month contracts would be attractive to me at any time but it seems to be a rare thing.

Neil_Jones

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82069208#Comment_82069208

Except you're not "in handcuffs" because you are free to pick somebody else even if you did sign up for 24 months. Yes you'd have to pay exit fees but you are free to go, if not completely finance free.

And there are providers that do 1 month rolling contracts, and 12 month ones, but not from any big name. But they do exist.

iniltous

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82069482#Comment_82069482

There are big name providers offering 12 month contracts , BT and EE both do , probably other big brands as well , but they are more expensive in that the costs to the ISP (router , installation or takeover cost etc ) need to be ameliorated over a shorter period , this in BT case makes the 12 month deal £5 more per month than the 24 month deal ….most go for the cheapest per month deal , not the one that gives a shorter minimum term