Minimum term and renewal traps
Most consumer deals run 18 or 24 months, sometimes 12. When the fixed term ends, you often roll onto a higher monthly out-of-contract rate unless you re-contract or switch. Diary the end date and start shopping 30–45 days before; providers increasingly send “end of contract” notifications, but do not rely on them alone.
Intro prices versus ongoing rates
Teaser pricing for the first three, six or twelve months is common—especially on cable and fibre promotions. Check the “price after” figure and any annual step-ups (RPI/CPI + 3.9% clauses have hit BT, Sky and Virgin customers). Calculate total cost over the whole minimum term, including line rental, router delivery and activation.
Exit fees and cooling-off
Early termination charges reimburse the provider for remaining months—often dozens of pounds. You normally have a 14-day cooling-off period from order for distance sales unless an expedited install started at your request. Mid-contract price rise notifications may unlock penalty-free exits within 30 days—read Ofcom’s current guidance as providers adapt phrasing.
Service level and compensation
Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme covers missed appointments, delays to service start beyond two working days after promised date, and total loss of service not fixed quickly on Openreach-based and some other regulated products—up to capped daily amounts. Keep records of appointments and fault reference numbers.
SwitcherMate helps you compare headline prices transparently, but always read the CIS (contract information summary) your provider must supply before sale.
Cooling-off and recorded sales
If you ordered online or by phone, you normally retain statutory cooling-off rights unless you asked for immediate bespoke work. Save PDF order summaries, web chat transcripts, and agent names. If speeds or pricing were misrepresented, those artefacts strengthen complaints to the provider and, if needed, ADR.
For bundle TV, check whether discounts are contingent on maintaining broadband—a common clause that makes early exit from one service uneconomic.