Update for 2022!

If your current broadband provider is proving too expensive for the service you’re receiving, then switching may well be a great choice. In fact, doing so is likely more straightforward and pain-free than you imagined. Here’s a look at how to switch your broadband, and a few extra useful tips and tricks to make the whole experience run smoothly.

First up, why switch providers?

Thousands of homeowners make the switch every single day, and for a variety of different reasons, namely:

Cost savings

Saving money is the big reason to make the switch, and much of the time you actually end up getting a much better service! Why is that? Well, in recent years more and more parts of the UK have gained access to superfast broadband. So much so, that 95% of houses can access the benefits on offer.

Old ADSL contracts can’t access these superfast speeds, so just by making the switch, you gain immediate benefit. You may also find that you no longer need many of the outdated services you once opted into; such as landline calls or paid TV. As such, you end up with a service that more accurately reflects the modern needs of your home, is faster and which ultimately saves you money each month!

The end of a contract

We tend to find that the first 6 months or so of a contract are the most appealing. Service providers often offer free perks and hefty discounts. They then hope that, when it comes time to renew, you simply stick with them and assume they are still the best option. Wrong. In fact, you may well find that your provider has been slowly increasing prices every few months and you are paying way more than you should.

Well, if you’re at the end of a 2-year subscription, it’s always best to shop around and see what the market now offers. If you still have a few months left to run, it may be best to wait until your contract expires otherwise you’ll end up having to pay early cancellation fees.

You can easily maintain the same email and landline

Due to Ofcom regulations, whenever you switch broadband providers you should be allowed to keep the same number as before. So don’t worry about the hassle of changing over your telephone number with friends, family and businesses. Just check with your new provider to confirm that this is 100% possible.

If you also use your broadband provider for your email account, there’s a good chance you can continue to use this even once you’ve left. But again this is best to confirm as terms can differ across providers.

How long does switching broadband take?

On average, the switching process takes roughly 2 weeks to finalise. However, this can depend on a few different factors, such as:

– Whether you need to give 30 days notice to your existing provider
– Upgrading to cable broadband from ADSL
– The availability of engineers in your area

Essentially, if you are switching an entire broadband bundle, then this may take longer than the switch to a new broadband connection. And it also depends on where you are located geographically and the number of engineers servicing that area.

On the day of the switch, the engineer may only be there for 30 minutes, or possibly a few hours if upgrading to full fibre. To find out how long it will take to switch your broadband, you can confirm this for definite with your new provider once you decide who you’d like to opt for. They are best placed to advise on changeover times.

How to switch your broadband provider: 3 simple steps

Step 1: Checking local availability

This is the easy part, simply head on over to our handy search tool here. Go ahead and enter your postcode, and we will give you a clear rundown of exactly what broadband services are available for your home.

Step 2: Find your ideal package

The broadband needs for every household is different. So the service provider you opt for shouldn’t solely be based on who’s cheapest. Consider things such as:

– Do you need all of the services on offer? Many households don’t require landline anymore.
– Would you like to bundle your TV and landline in as well?
– Do you need superfast broadband (100Mbps+) or is regular broadband good enough?

Sift through the different options available and narrow it down to the one that suits you best. Next …

Step 3: Contact your chosen providers

Once you know who you want, simply click the “buy now” button and follow the steps presented to you. The great thing about switching broadband is that the new provider handles basically everything else from here on in. We told you it would be simple, didn’t we! Once they’ve liaised with your old provider and settled the switch, they will contact you with the details.

This process is particularly simple when switching between operators on a shared network, such as TalkTalk, BT and Sky. If you’re switching to someone on their own network, such as Hyperoptic or Virgin Media, you will need to contact them and your old provider in order to arrange the switch.

But stay tuned as new “gainer-led processes” will soon be coming into effect which means that all companies, including those on their new network, will need to settle the switch themselves. Once everything’s been finalised, you will receive written confirmation from both your old provider and new provider.

This will contain important information such as when your new contract begins and the exact pricing/service structure you are signed up for. Be sure to make a note of when your new contract expires. That way, you can do this simple process again and maybe find another awesome deal that is more up-to-date with the market.

Once the switch has been made, remember that you have 14 days to cancel this contract without penalty. This is important to remember if you do experience any unwanted issues or don’t receive the service level promised in your contract. To find the best deals on offer today, you can do a quick search using our price comparison tool.