How to save money on your broadband contract when moving home

Moving home can be a stressful experience, and the last thing you want is expensive bills for your broadband. A change of address can often mean a broadband change, which leads to excess costs. Yet, in the long run, this change could save you money.

When should I look at my broadband contract?

The moment you have a moving date, you can start looking at broadband. Dealing with your broadband when moving is a time-sensitive process, so it’s important to understand ahead of time what your provider needs to know and when they need to know it. Otherwise, you could delay the installation of broadband at your new home.

You will need to find out how much notice they need about your move, and what the process will be. It could be that your new address needs a visit from an engineer if the phone lines are off. 

If you want to cancel your service, you will also need to know how much notice they need for you to do so. Also, any equipment you have may belong to the provider, so you might need to send it back.

Checking coverage at your new home

Even if you’re planning on sticking with your current package, you should look into the deals available for your new home. 

There could be a package on offer that will work better for you, or it could just be that your finances need to change. Once settled in a home with working internet, we don’t think about changing our broadband provider as everything seems fine. But a move can be the perfect excuse to find a better deal, and saving money is something we could all generally use.

You can find out what’s on offer for your new home using a postcode checker. Start by entering your postcode into a broadband comparison website to see what services are available. You can then filter them by important criteria such as speed and price. 

You can also contact your current provider to see what they might offer. But it’s still a good idea to use a postcode checker so you can see all the deals available, not just those your provider offers.

Should I get the fastest broadband available?

When getting something like a new internet package, it does feel like we should pick the fastest available. We assume that the speedier the internet, the better. 

But not everyone needs the very fastest broadband possible. If all you’re doing on the internet is social media or streaming TV now and then, a cheap broadband deal will suffice.

The biggest thing to remember when looking at broadband packages is that you need to suit the contract to your needs. Heavy users who regularly stream HD video or households with multiple people sharing the broadband will need faster speeds.

An unlimited broadband deal is essential for any home, and this isn’t difficult to find as almost all deals are now unlimited. 

Yet even then, make sure you check the details. Unlimited should mean that your internet does not have a cap on it. Despite this, some of them do have hidden caps. These will usually get labelled as fair use policies. These won’t generally affect most people, but it can affect specific activities such as file sharing. Always check the small print to see what this policy could entail.

If you’re happy with your current speeds but can’t transfer your package, look for a similar deal to what you already have.

Is it cheaper to get my TV and mobile contract on the same deal?

That can depend. Some packages allow you to have your TV or mobile phone on one contract alongside the broadband. That can be cheaper than separate services, but only if you’re getting full use out of every part of it. And the more you add, the less likely that will be.

TV and broadband bundles are generally the most expensive type of home broadband package. If you think you will not use all the channels, it might be worth paying separately for something cheaper. 

Always work out what use you will get out of the bundle. You may find that a separate TV or mobile provider is a better fit.

It is worth noting that getting a bundle means having one single bill for whichever services you have in your bundle. Depending on how you budget, this could be positive or negative. If you need to budget carefully as you’re paid multiple times a month, separate bills could work better for you. For many though, a single bill that covers it all may be easier.

Can I stick with my current provider?

If you want to stick with your current provider, you should still use a postcode checker to see if they’re available at your new address. If they are, it’s also a good idea to check with your provider that your current package is available there too. If not, they may move you onto a different plan depending on what they have available in that area.

Make sure you’ve looked into what deals they offer in the area. If you’ve been on the contract for a while, you will likely be paying too much now. 

When you contact them, see if you can talk to them about switching to a deal they are offering now. You might not be able to receive all the benefits like any free gifts they offer, but you should be able to save some money.

How do I switch providers?

The first thing you do is inform your current provider that you’re cancelling your plan and request for service to end on the day you move out. 

You will need to ask if you’re still in your contract or not. If you are, you will likely have to pay a cancellation fee. However, if the reason you have to cancel is that they aren’t available in your new home, they may waive the fee. 

If you are switching then there are a few things that you need to bear in mind. 

If the provider you’re switching to isn’t already installed in your new home, you may need to have an engineer come in. Make sure that you don’t book this for the day you move in, you’ll already have a lot going on. Obviously, this could leave you without internet for a few days, so make sure you have another option. You can use your phone as a mobile hotspot, though this will rely on your mobile data, so keep within those limits. Switching your broadband can take up to 2 weeks, so if you need the internet during that time, you will need to find some way to keep connected.

Switching providers can be a lot of extra stress on top of your move. It can be a lot simpler to stick with your provider as then they will do a lot of the work to get your broadband set up at the new address. 

Sometimes your provider won’t serve your new house or you need a different deal, then switching is a necessity. But sticking with your current provider can save you a lot of hassle. And you can also switch to a different package once you’re settled in.

It’s also worth noting that whether you are switching providers or not, you can only start the process of setting up a new service once the current homeowners have reported they will be moving to their broadband provider.

Final Thoughts

Whether you want to start a new contract or to save money on your current one, always do your research when you’re planning on moving. Not only could you get a faster broadband service, you could even save money too, something you’ll want to do after moving!

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