Broadband Packages - To Change or Not to Change… That is the Question

There are many people who are not happy with the broadband provider they are currently using.  These people usually look at moving from their current provider to a new one.  However, this is not as easy as it sounds because there are a number of factors to consider.  You need to think about the challenges involved in getting broadband packages from a new provider.  When you look at changing provider you should consider all of your options.

Why Changing is Challenging?

The first thing you need to understand when you think about changing provider is why this is so challenging.  You would expect it to be as easy as cancelling your contract with one provider and starting one with another.  However, this is not the case and as there are four parts to changing and everyone has their own interests.  You need to know who these people are and how their interests affect you move:

·         The customer – the first point is the customer who is unhappy with the broadband packages they are currently getting.  They are looking for a new package that offers them better service, better features and saves them money.  These are the driving factors behind the consumer.

·         The current provider – the current provider is the one you have a problem with and want to leave.  Of course, the provider does not want you to leave because this reduces their business and their profits.  There are a number of strategies that these providers may employ to make it hard for you to leave.  These strategies include being hard to contact, having a cancellation fee and suddenly offering you a better deal when you want to leave.

·         The provider you are going to – you new provider can also affect how challenging your move is.  The new provider wants you to sign up as quickly as possible.  However, the provider also wants to make sure that you are a good customer, which means that they will run a credit check and this can take time. 

·         The engineer – many people do not consider the engineer when they look at switching.  This is the person who is responsible for making the switch happen.  While their primary role is to ensure that your connection works they have the interest of the provider and not the individual at heart.

With all these competing interests switching can become difficult and time consuming.  There is a code of conduct in place that should help make this switch a bit easier.  It is recommended that you understand the code which can be found on the Ofcom website and how it affects you.

Being Informed Before Switching Broadband Packages

The best way to avoid switching nightmares is to be well informed about everything.  There are three things that you should be looking at when you become informed:

·         The first point is to compare all the broadband packages.  When you compare packages you can find the one that best suits your needs.  There are many consumers that find the best packages for them with their current provider.  This can make the entire switching process much easier.  When you compare the packages you should only consider the packages that are available in your area.  You can find out what these are by using a postcode checker.

·         The second point is to look at online forums.  Online forums are a great way to see how good the new provider you are looking at really is.  You can also find out if there are other people who have the same problems with your current provider and find out what they are doing about this.  Forums can also give you advice on what you should do when you switch providers.  Of course, you have to take what people say on the forum with a pinch of salt.  A lot of people only go onto a forum when they have a problem and not when everything is going well.  This can lead to a large number of bad comments about a generally good provider.

·         The last point you should look at is customer reviews.  Customer reviews are one of the best tools that a consumer has.  These reviews can tell you all about the about the features and services that a provider offers.  There are five things that you should look for when you read reviews and they are customer service, technical support, speeds, reliability and billing procedures. 

Reading the Small Print

Research has found that around half of consumers read the terms and conditions of contracts.  It is very important that you read this information because it contains details that can affect your switch.  If you do not recall the terms of your contract with your current provider then you should go over them and pay attention to certain parts:

·         The first point you should look for are your contractual obligations.  This is generally a minimum period of time that you have to have the contract for.  The most common lengths of time are 12 and 18 months.  If you took a contract with no minimum contract then you have to check the wording.  Many of these broadband packages do charge you a cancellation fee if you leave the contract within the first 12 months.  If you are free of the contractual obligations then you can leave the provider without worrying about cancellation fees and penalties.

·         The second point you should consider is the cancellation policy of your contract.  One of the most common annoyances of changing provider is that you have to pay a cancellation fee or that there were problems with the billing.  Your contract will tell you want the cancellation policy is.  A lot of providers have a fee per month remaining on the contract while others have a set cancellation charge.  At this point you should weigh the cost of cancelling against the cost of staying for the remainder of the contract.

·         The third point that you should look at is whether or not your provider has breached the service agreement.  This is something that consumers who are not getting the correct service should look at.  If the provider has breached the contract they should not be able to charge you fees for leaving.