Thinking about your internet connection might be low down on your list of priorities when moving home, but what better time is there to have a complete review of your monthly outgoings?
Signing up to a fresh broadband contract or changing providers to get a better deal could help you start the new chapter of your life off with a clean slate and a big saving to boot.
Although it can feel convenient, sticking with the same broadband contract will often mean you end up paying over the odds over time because of the so-called “loyalty penalty”.
The market is very much geared towards appealing to new customers. Fresh deals and new competitive prices come along often. Keeping tabs on your contract and not being averse to switching broadband packages will help you be sure you’re getting the most for your money.
Mark in your calendar when you last switched or renewed your contract. If your contract is nearing its expiration, or you’ve fulfilled your contract length, your provider is legally obliged to offer you the same price as they do for new subscribers.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t include any free gifts or other incentives your provider may be offering new customers. With that in mind, you’ll probably get an even better deal by switching broadband.
Start by doing your research
If you’ve not got the details of your broadband contract to hand quickly give your current provider a call to find out the essential details.
Before you move find out:
- How long is left on your current contract.
- Whether they can supply services to your new address.
- How much notice they require to move your broadband.
- How much notice they require to cancel your broadband.
- Whether there are any costs involved moving or cancelling your broadband.
If you’re able to cancel your contract without an early termination penalty the next step is to find out what deals are available in your new area.
You can easily check up on the broadband options available to you using a postcode checker (obviously using the postcode of your new home).
This is a quick, free, and convenient way to also compare download and upload speeds, monthly price, and contract lengths.
How to get the best broadband deal
Using a broadband comparison site makes it easier to work out the costs involved in switching, but also be made aware of any current incentives and freebies that will make the switching process a little sweeter.
To lure new customers many providers will offer perks such as reward vouchers or other free gifts. Deducting the value of these gifts off your contract total can often work out to offer you a significant saving.
Don’t be dazzled by gifts though and always read the small print. There are often a few hidden costs that should be acknowledged too.
For example, some providers will ask for the customer to pay a set-up fee, whilst others discount this charge. Typically, a broadband set-up fee is quite low. It’s not a huge deal-breaker, but if you’re trying hard to trim down your expenses it’s something to bear in mind.
Double-check whether the new home you’re moving into already has a line installed. Even if the deal includes a £0 set-up cost as standard, you’ll often be required to cover this for an extra fee if a new line is required.
A good comparison site should make it easy to work out an effective monthly cost (whilst also considering rewards and these extra little fees). But if you need to get your calculator out to do this yourself, here’s how to do it:
Multiply the monthly fee by the months in the contract, add any upfront fees, deduct the value of any freebies, and then divide by the number of months in the contract.
Check what your current provider can offer
Once you have a better understanding of what’s available to you, and assuming you’re out of contract and free to switch, you’re in a much better position to make an informed decision. Get in touch with your provider and see what they can offer you.
Make your decision
To avoid any delays to the activation of your broadband after moving it’s a good idea to do this research in good time. Your current provider will have a minimum time it needs to be notified of a transfer of service. Be aware this notice period could be as long as a month.
Get in touch with your current provider as soon as you have a moving date to advise them of your new address, or to inform them you’d like to cancel. This is the best way to get back online and settled in without any internet blackouts.
