Broadband and mobile bills are easy to leave running in the background.
You sign up for a deal, the service works, and months later the contract is almost over — or already finished.
That matters because out-of-contract customers often pay more than customers on a current deal. Ofcom’s 2026 pricing research found average savings of around £7–£9 per month for many broadband customers who were in contract rather than out of contract, while separate Ofcom analysis suggested some out-of-contract customers could save more than £100 a year by switching or taking a new deal. www.ofcom.org.uk
The best time to review your broadband and mobile costs is therefore before your contract renews or rolls on.
This guide explains exactly what to check.
1. Find Out Whether You Are Still in Contract
Start with the simplest question:
Are you still inside your minimum contract period?
Phone, broadband and pay-TV contracts are commonly 12, 18 or 24 months.
If you are still in contract, leaving early can sometimes trigger an early termination charge.
If you are already out of contract, you are usually in a much stronger position to compare deals and switch without that kind of exit fee.
Check:
- Your provider’s app
- Your online account
- Your original contract
- Your latest bill
- Your provider’s customer service team
Do not guess.
Knowing the contract-end date should be the first step before negotiating or switching.
2. Look for Your End-of-Contract Notification
Providers must tell you when your contract is coming to an end.
Ofcom requires providers to send an end-of-contract notification between 10 and 40 days before the minimum term finishes.
That notification should include:
- When your contract ends
- Any notice period
- What you are currently paying
- What you will pay after the contract ends
- The provider’s best available deals
- Relevant information about bundled services
If you are already out of contract, your provider should also remind you at least annually and tell you about its best deals.
Do not delete these messages without reading them.
They can be one of the easiest ways to spot an upcoming price change.
3. Compare the Price After Your Contract Ends
A promotional price can look attractive when you first sign up.
The important question is:
What will the service cost after the initial deal ends?
Compare:
Current monthly price
with:
Out-of-contract monthly price
Then calculate the annual difference.
For example:
If your broadband costs £28 per month during the contract but rises to £38 afterward:
£38 – £28 = £10 more per month
Over 12 months:
£10 × 12 = £120
That is why simply allowing a contract to roll on can become expensive.
4. Check Any Future Price Rises Before Signing
Since January 2025, new telecoms contracts cannot use inflation-linked or percentage-based price-rise terms in the old way.
If a provider intends to increase the main monthly price during the contract, the increase must be clearly stated in pounds and pence before you sign up.
For example, instead of:
CPI + 3.9%
you might see:
Your monthly price will increase by £3 each April
That makes future contract costs easier to understand.
Do not compare only the starting monthly price.
Ask:
- What is the price today?
- Is there a scheduled annual increase?
- How much is that increase in pounds?
- When will it happen?
- What will I pay over the full contract?
5. Calculate the Total Contract Cost
A £25 deal is not necessarily cheaper than a £27 deal.
You need to consider the entire contract.
For example:
Deal A
£25 per month for 24 months
No setup fee
Total:
£25 × 24 = £600
Deal B
£22 per month initially
£30 setup fee
Price rises by £3 part-way through the contract
The true total may end up being similar or higher.
When comparing broadband or mobile contracts, look at:
- Monthly price
- Contract length
- Setup fee
- Router or equipment charges
- Scheduled price increases
- Extras
- Exit fees
The total cost is more useful than the headline price.
6. Do Not Pay for Broadband Speed You Do Not Need
Faster broadband can be useful.
But paying for the fastest available package is not automatically good value.
Think about what your household actually does online.
A household mainly using:
- Web browsing
- Social media
- Video calls
- Streaming
may not need the highest-speed package available.
A household with several people gaming, downloading large files and streaming simultaneously may benefit from faster service.
Ofcom recommends checking what broadband is actually available at your address and choosing a speed that matches your needs rather than simply buying the highest tier. www.ofcom.org.uk
7. Check What You Are Paying for Mobile Data
Mobile plans are another area where households can easily overpay.
Look at your recent usage.
How much data do you actually use each month?
If you pay for 100GB but normally use 15GB, you may be paying for capacity you rarely need.
When comparing plans, check:
- Data allowance
- Calls and texts
- Roaming
- Network coverage
- Contract length
- Handset cost
- Extra charges
Ofcom recommends choosing the package based on your actual needs and comparing the full cost, including add-ons and extras.
8. Consider SIM-Only Once Your Phone Is Paid Off
If your handset still works well after your original phone contract ends, you may not need another handset immediately.
A SIM-only plan can sometimes be cheaper because you are only paying for:
- Calls
- Texts
- Mobile data
rather than financing another phone.
Ofcom says SIM-only deals are usually the best-value option for customers who already have a suitable handset.
Before taking a new handset contract, ask yourself whether you actually need a new device.
9. Check Mobile Coverage Before Switching
The cheapest mobile plan is not good value if the network performs poorly where you use it.
Check coverage at:
- Home
- Work
- Regular travel routes
- Places you visit frequently
Ofcom’s mobile guidance recommends checking both coverage and performance before choosing a network.
Do this before committing to a long contract.
10. Negotiate With Your Existing Provider
You do not always need to switch.
If your contract is ending, contact your existing provider and ask:
- What is your best renewal price?
- Are there cheaper packages?
- Can I remove services I do not use?
- Is there a lower-speed option?
- Are there customer-retention offers?
- Can you match a competitor?
Your end-of-contract notification should already show some of the provider’s best available deals.
Use that as a starting point rather than automatically accepting the first renewal offer.
11. Compare Other Providers
Even if your current provider gives you a discount, compare the wider market.
Ofcom’s 2026 guidance recommends shopping around when you are out of contract because switching can reduce bills.
Compare:
- Monthly price
- Total contract cost
- Speed
- Minimum guaranteed speed
- Contract length
- Setup costs
- Customer service
- Network availability
- Price-rise terms
Do not switch solely because a competitor advertises a lower first-month price.
12. Broadband Switching Is Easier Than It Used to Be
For most residential broadband and landline switches, you generally only need to contact the new provider.
Under One Touch Switch, the new provider manages the switching process.
This also applies when moving between different broadband networks, not just providers using the same underlying network.
Your new provider should explain:
- When the switch happens
- Whether an engineer is needed
- Whether you need new equipment
- Any expected interruption
Still check whether you have an early termination charge before switching if you are inside your minimum term.
13. Mobile Switching Can Be Done by Text
Switching mobile networks is also straightforward.
If you want to keep your number:
Text PAC to 65075
If you do not want to keep your number:
Text STAC to 75075
Your provider should normally send the switching code quickly, and you then give it to your new provider. www.ofcom.org.uk
Using the proper switching process also helps avoid paying both providers unnecessarily.
14. Check Whether You Qualify for a Social Tariff
If someone in your household receives certain benefits, you may qualify for a cheaper broadband or mobile social tariff.
Common qualifying benefits can include:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Certain income-related benefits
Social tariffs usually offer lower prices and no mid-contract price rises.
Eligibility varies by provider.
Read our guide to broadband social tariffs in the UK to check current eligibility, prices and how to apply.
15. Review Bundles Carefully
Bundling broadband, TV and landline services can sometimes reduce the total price.
But bundles can also encourage households to pay for services they barely use.
Before renewing, ask:
- Do I still watch the pay-TV channels?
- Do I use the landline?
- Am I paying for streaming subscriptions separately as well?
- Would broadband alone be cheaper overall?
Ofcom notes that bundles can offer savings, but they can also be less flexible, so the package should match what you actually use.
16. Cancel Streaming Services You No Longer Use
Broadband bills are often only one part of a household’s communications and entertainment spending.
You may also be paying separately for:
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Amazon Prime
- Music services
- Sports subscriptions
- Cloud storage
- Gaming subscriptions
Review them together rather than treating each payment as insignificant.
Ofcom specifically recommends checking unused streaming services as part of reducing communications costs.
17. Watch Out for Roaming Charges
Mobile roaming can add unexpected costs.
Before travelling abroad, check:
- Whether your destination is included
- Daily roaming fees
- Data limits
- Fair-use rules
- Charges outside your allowance
Do this before you travel, not after receiving the bill.
18. Do Not Cancel Your Old Broadband Too Early
If you are switching through One Touch Switch, let the switching process handle the change unless your providers tell you otherwise.
Cancelling your existing service yourself too early can potentially cause complications or leave you temporarily without broadband.
Start with the new provider and follow its instructions.
19. Keep Your Contract Details in One Place
For each broadband and mobile service, record:
- Provider
- Monthly price
- Contract start date
- Contract end date
- Scheduled price rises
- Renewal date
- Broadband speed or mobile data allowance
This makes it much easier to review the service before the next renewal.
Optional UK Home Saver Tool
If you want to keep broadband, mobile, subscriptions and other recurring household bills together, the UK Home Saver Household Bills Command Centre includes bill and subscription tracking alongside spending and savings planning.
View the Household Bills Command Centre on Gumroad
Also available from the UKHomeSaver Etsy shop.
This is an optional UK Home Saver digital product. You can follow all of the steps in this article without purchasing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is broadband more expensive when you are out of contract?
It can be. Ofcom’s 2026 research found that many in-contract broadband customers were paying less than equivalent out-of-contract customers.
Does my provider have to tell me when my contract ends?
Yes. Providers must send end-of-contract information before your minimum term finishes and tell you about their best available deals.
Can I switch broadband without contacting my old provider?
For most residential broadband switches covered by One Touch Switch, you contact the new provider and it manages the switch.
How do I keep my mobile number when switching?
Text PAC to 65075, then give the code to your new provider.
Should I choose the fastest broadband package?
Not automatically. Choose a speed appropriate for your household’s actual usage.
Is SIM-only cheaper than getting a new phone?
It often can be if you already own a suitable handset, because you are no longer financing a new device.
Can broadband contracts still increase in price?
Yes, some contracts include specified annual rises. For new contracts, these rises must now be clearly presented in pounds and pence rather than inflation-linked percentages.
Final Checklist Before Renewal
Before renewing broadband or mobile:
- Check your contract-end date
- Read the end-of-contract notification
- Compare your current and future price
- Check scheduled price rises
- Calculate the total contract cost
- Review broadband speed
- Check mobile data usage
- Consider SIM-only
- Compare competing providers
- Check social-tariff eligibility
- Review TV and streaming subscriptions
- Check exit fees
- Record the next renewal date
A broadband or mobile renewal should not be automatic.
Spending a short amount of time reviewing the contract before it ends can help you avoid paying for speed, data or services you no longer need.
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