Out Of Contract? Your Broadband Could Cost £100+ Too Much

Once your broadband contract ends, your bill may increase because your introductory discount has expired. If you don’t notice the change, you could spend months paying more for the same service before realising how much extra it’s costing you. When household budgets are already stretched, that’s money you could put towards other bills.

Ofcom, the UK regulator for broadband, phone and TV services, says many customers whose broadband, landline and TV contracts have ended could save more than £100 a year by switching provider. Check when your contract ends and how much you’re currently paying, then put a reminder in your phone or diary for around a month before that date. That gives you time to compare deals and ask your current provider whether it can offer a better price.

Before signing up through a provider or comparison site, check cashback services such as TopCashback and Quidco to see whether your chosen deal comes with cashback. Read the offer conditions before starting your order, as you’ll usually need to follow the link from the cashback service for your purchase to be tracked.

Switching is also less cumbersome than it used to be. Under Ofcom’s One Touch Switch process, you normally contact the new provider and it manages the transfer, including telling the old provider that you are leaving. You still need to compare the replacement properly because a lower first-month price can be poor value if the speed, contract length or later price rises do not suit your household.

How do you know if your broadband is out of contract?

Start with your latest bill, provider app or online account and look for the minimum-term end date. Providers also send end-of-contract notifications, but those emails are easy to miss, so checking the account directly is safer if you are unsure. Once the minimum term has finished, you can generally leave without an early termination charge, although equipment-return rules or separate services in a bundle may still need attention.

Write down your current monthly payment and multiply it by 12 before comparing alternatives. That gives you a simple annual figure to compare with the full first-year cost of a new deal. If your current price is £42 a month and an equivalent service would cost £32, the difference is £120 over a year before any setup costs or future increases are considered.

How much could switching broadband save?

Ofcom reported on the 12th of September that around 3.5 million people had switched landline or broadband provider over the previous two years. Its analysis found that many out-of-contract customers with broadband, landline and pay TV could save more than £100 a year, while one in three customers with those three services together had been out of contract in the previous year.

The Ofcom Consumer Hub was launched alongside that analysis to help people check bills and switching options.

Your own saving can be smaller or larger because broadband pricing depends on address, network availability, speed and the services included. A £5 monthly reduction is £60 a year, while a £15 reduction is £180, so it is worth doing the calculation even if the advertised monthly difference initially looks modest.

Compare like with like before deciding that the cheapest number on the screen is the cheapest suitable service.

What should you compare before switching?

Availability also matters because two households in the same town can have different network choices. Use your postcode on several provider or comparison sites, then compare the final cost and terms rather than relying on a national “from” price. If you depend on a landline, alarm system or other connected equipment, confirm that it will work with the replacement service before switching.

How does One Touch Switch work?

With One Touch Switch, you choose the new provider and it normally manages the switch, including communication with the old provider. The new company should explain whether you need new equipment, an engineer visit or a change of service date. The system reduces the admin, but you should still keep confirmation emails and check the first and final bills for unexpected overlap or fees.

Could a broadband social tariff be cheaper?

If someone in the household receives Universal Credit, Pension Credit or certain other benefits, check social tariffs before taking a standard deal. Ofcom describes these as cheaper broadband packages for people on lower incomes, and they do not have mid-contract price rises. Eligibility and availability differ by provider, so use Ofcom’s current social-tariff information rather than assuming your existing company offers the only option.

Should you switch or haggle with your current provider?

You do not have to leave simply because your contract has ended. A current provider may offer a retention deal once you show that you have checked alternatives, and keeping the same service can avoid equipment changes or installation appointments. Compare the retention offer against the real alternatives in writing, because a discount from an inflated out-of-contract price is not automatically competitive.

If you want another way to keep track of contract dates, Our Nous review looks at a household-bill service that can monitor broadband and other recurring costs. You can also do the job manually by putting the contract end date in your calendar around a month in advance. The important part is creating a reminder before the out-of-contract price becomes normal spending.

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave broadband if I am out of contract?

Once your minimum contract term has ended, you can normally switch without paying an early termination charge. Check your provider account for any equipment-return requirements or separate services that could still affect the final bill.

How much can I save by switching broadband?

Ofcom says many out-of-contract broadband, landline and pay-TV customers could save more than £100 a year by switching. Your own saving depends on the price, speed and services available at your address.

What is One Touch Switch?

One Touch Switch is the broadband switching process under which you normally contact the new provider and it manages the transfer from your old provider. The new provider should explain any engineer visit, equipment or service-date changes.

Who can get a broadband social tariff?

Social tariffs are available from participating providers to people receiving certain benefits, which can include Universal Credit and Pension Credit. Check Ofcom’s current social-tariff information because eligibility and providers can change.

Should I haggle before switching broadband?

It can be worth asking your current provider for a better deal, but compare any retention offer with alternatives available at your postcode. A discount does not necessarily mean the renewed deal is the cheapest suitable option.