How to read your broadband contract

The headline price and what it includes

The monthly price is usually the first thing you see, but it is worth checking what that figure actually covers. Most modern broadband deals bundle the line rental into a single monthly charge, so there is no separate line-rental bill — but it is still common to see one-off charges listed separately.

Look for any setup, activation, or delivery fees, and whether the price you were quoted is an introductory rate that applies only for part of the contract.

• The recurring monthly charge, and whether it is an introductory or standard rate.
• Any one-off fees — setup, activation, router delivery, or engineer install.
• What is included: the broadband itself, any landline calls, and any added extras.

Contract length and minimum term

Broadband deals are usually sold with a minimum term — the period you agree to stay for, often expressed in months. During this period the contract is described as being "in contract".

The contract should state when the minimum term starts (often the activation date rather than the order date) and when it ends. Knowing the end date helps you understand when you are free to leave without an early-exit charge.

Price changes during the contract

Many broadband contracts include a section describing whether, and how, the monthly price can change while you are still in your minimum term. The mechanism varies between providers and between contracts.

It is worth finding this section and reading how any change would be calculated and when it would take effect, so the figure on your bill in a year’s time is not a surprise.

What happens at the end of the term

When the minimum term ends, broadband contracts typically continue on a rolling basis rather than stopping. The price after the minimum term — sometimes called the out-of-contract or standard price — can differ from the in-contract price.

The contract should explain what happens at this point: whether the deal rolls over month to month, and what the price becomes once the minimum term is over.

Speed and service terms

Broadband contracts usually describe the speed you can expect. This may be given as an average or estimated speed, and there may be a separate minimum-speed figure that the provider commits to.

It is worth reading how speed is described, and what the contract says happens if the speed you actually receive falls below the figure it quotes.

Leaving or ending the contract

The contract should set out how to end it, how much notice you need to give, and whether any charge applies if you leave before the minimum term is over (often called an early-exit or early-termination charge).

Reading this section in advance means you understand the process and any costs before you need to act, rather than at the point you want to make a change.

A note on this guide

This guide is general information to help you understand your own contracts. It is not financial advice or a recommendation, and it does not rank or endorse any provider. Every decision about your contracts remains with you. To see how PEAMO surfaces your contracts and renewals, read How PEAMO works.