How to haggle your broadband when the contract ends
In short: when your broadband contract ends, ring your provider before the price goes up. Ofcom found customers who switch or sign a new deal save around £100 a year on average, and in most cases providers will offer a discount if you sign up for a new fixed term.
Since February 2020, providers have had to tell you when your contract is ending and what you’ll pay afterwards. That letter or email is your cue. Many people still ignore it: a Which? survey found 41% rarely or never change their deal when it ends.
Before you ring
- Find your account number, current monthly price and contract end date.
- Check what your provider charges new customers for the same speed.
- Look up two or three rival deals at your address.
What to say
“My contract ends on [date]. I’ve found [speed] broadband with [provider] for £[price] a month. I’d rather stay, but I’ll need you to get close to that. What can you do?”
If the first offer isn’t good enough, ask for the team that handles customers leaving. Be polite and specific. If they won’t move, thank them and switch: under Ofcom’s rules most broadband switches are led by your new provider, so you don’t need to make the call to cancel.
Phone contracts too
If your phone is paid off, you may be paying a contract price for a handset you already own. Ask for a SIM-only deal on the same network, or move to a cheaper one and keep your number.
How Sort Admin helps: add your contract end date and Sort Admin reminds you before the price changes, with your account number ready to copy when you ring.