SKY is rolling out a major change for broadband customers that will see them stuck in deals for longer.
The telecoms firm has quietly changed the minimum term for its broadband contracts from 18 months to 24 months.
The change was brought in on June 20 and affects all new customers.
Anyone who is currently midway through their contract isn’t impacted immediately, but will be if they come to the end of their deal and decide to stay with Sky.
A Sky spokesperson said the change would mean “extending the in contract benefits we know our customers value.”
They added: “These changes apply to new or re-contracting customers – those who are currently in contract will remain on their existing term until it ends.”
Sky said early exit fees will still apply to customers looking to cancel their contract midway through.
How much of a fee you pay depends on how long is left on your deal, how many days in advance you have been billed for and what is included in the package.
The price of terminating your broadband contract early starts from £9.07.
You have to tell Sky if you want to terminate your contract 31 days in advance.
Alex Tofts, broadband expert at Broadband Genie, said Sky’s move comes as other providers across the sector increase the minimum length of their contracts.
He said: “The whole broadband industry has been moving away from 12 and 18 month contracts as a way to retain customers for longer.
“When you come to the end of your contract, Sky, like the majority of providers, will put you on a rolling monthly contract at a higher rate.
“By increasing the contract length, Sky is delaying customers from shopping around and moving to a cheaper deal, while they cash in for longer.”
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at comparison site Uswitch said the change from Sky could have its benefits for customers though.
He commented: “Longer contracts means less flexibility for consumers, however they do allow the potential for customers to lock in a good price for longer.
“Whether Sky’s change is a good or bad thing for consumers will very much depend on whether this unlocks better deals to customers as a result of securing a longer term commitment.”
You can always switch broadband providers.
Consumer expert Scott Dixon said: “Sky’s customers ought to shop around if they are unhappy with the new terms and compare prices.
“Cheapest isn’t always best. It’s worth paying a bit more for great customer service and experience, so bear that in mind when you are considering changing providers.
“Haggle as well and don’t accept the first offer unless you are happy with it.”
If contract length term is important to you, there are a few firms that offer minimum terms shorter than 24 months.
Virgin Media’s standard contract length is 18 months and it also offers one-month rolling contracts.
Vodafone also offers 12-month deals if you are looking for something even shorter.
But make sure you factor in everything before making the switch.
Check out the provider’s charges for leaving a contract midway through, and make sure you read all the fine details of the deal.
For example, it might be worth paying a bit more for broadband if it comes with a quicker speed and covers you if you are a larger family.
Price comparison websites like MoneySuperMarket, Uswitch and Compare the Market are all useful.
You can use them to find out the deal best-suited to your needs based on price, speed and length of contract.
HERE'S a few tips you can use to cut back on costs...
Social tariffs are a great way of saving money on broadband.
They’re available to people on certain benefits like Universal Credit, with prices starting from just £12.50 a month.
Shop around for the best deals so you’re getting the one most-suited your needs.
Ofcom, the regulator, has a list on its website of all the firms that offer social tariffs. There’s even some for mobile phone users.
If you’re not on benefits, you can save by haggling with your provider when you come to renewing your contract.
If you’re not happy calling up, you can always use an online web chat option.
Remember to be polite when speaking to customer services though as there’s still a human on the other side.
If you’ve got the budget, bundling your TV, broadband and phone into one contract could save you money too.
Again, make sure you use comparison websites to shop around for the best deal.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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