Broadband Guide

No monthly contract broadband

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Traditionally UK broadband providers required you to sign up for 12 months and charged a hefty fee if you needed to disconnect the service early.

However, a new breed of “no contract” broadband packages has emerged, giving consumers the freedom to switch broadband supplier, so if you’re planning on moving house, or just want to be able to switch when a better offer comes along, there are now some alternatives available for today’s transient broadband user.

We've sieved through the small print and highlighted exactly what you should be on the look-out for.

No minimum contract broadband offers

Unfortunately, no Internet providers offer "no contract" or "pay as you go" plans for home broadband. The shortest home broadband contracts are available from AOL Broadband (www.AOLbroadband.co.uk) and BE (www.BeThere.co.uk), on rolling 1-month and 3-month contracts respectively.

Mobile broadband offers

Alternatively, you could look into mobile broadband options. Mobile broadband is available from mobile phone operators, both on a contract and pay as you go basis. Flexible 1-month contracts provide the best value balance between cost and flexibility.

Monthly subscription prices

You might find that, in order to cover their costs, some suppliers charge more per month if No Long Term Broadband Contract is required. You might pay the same for only 9 or 10 months on a month-by-month contract as you would for a whole year with a normal one – if you’re moving house in 11 month's time, it might be worth signing up for a whole year. So try to match the package with your circumstances.

So try to match the package with your needs and make sure that you compare the different deals available as some are more competitive than others.

Disconnection fees

ADSL providers have to pay a fee to BT to activate your broadband connection. Many of them won’t charge you for this when you sign up but, to cover their costs, they will add the fee to your bill if you disconnect the service within a year – even if you’re moving house. This fee might also be higher if you’re a first-time broadband user as the cost of connecting you will have been higher. Cable broadband companies don’t have the excuse of dealing with BT, but you should always check the small-print when it comes to disconnection or de-activation fees. It may be worth choosing an internet service provider that charges a connection fee instead – such as Eclipse at £47 – so that you’re not stung with an unexpected bill at hard times or on moving house.

Some ADSL and cable suppliers will also ask you to return the modem you were supplied with if you cancel within a year.

Monthly vs yearly contracts

A 12-month contract could be the right choice for you if you’re settled into your home and know that broadband is an amenity that you’ll continue to need. You can also get longer contracts of up to 18 months, which can further reduce your monthly fee, but will leave you unable to switch within that time or take advantage of better offers elsewhere. Monthly contracts can be a bit pricey, but many people consider them worth the extra cost, and you can also get three month contracts that offer flexibility but at a slightly lower cost.

If you can find a good value monthly broadband contract with no big fees, you’ll be the envy of all your friends. Not only will you have the freedom to move house, or cancel if your service isn’t up to par, but you can also keep an eye on the broadband market and switch suppliers if a better deal comes along. You can compare broadband deals such as these and more with our broadband calculator.

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