If you aren’t happy with your current internet provider, it’s time to look for alternatives.
If you can find a better one, your next step will be to switch providers.
It’s not as tricky as you might think. Just follow the advice you’ll find here and enjoy the change to a better service.
Confirm What You’ll Have to Do if You Switch Providers
You can cancel a service at any time, but if you are still bound by a contract, cancellation fees are likely to apply. Check your contract to see what this will amount to.
If you’re hoping for cost-savings, this can be important. After all, you must offset your cancellation fee against the savings you might realise with a new internet service provider.
At the same time, you should find out what you’ll have to do after cancelling your service.
For example, you may have to return hardware within a specified time frame. If you don’t, you’ll incur extra charges.
A few more points to consider: If your internet service provider also gives you an email address, you will lose it after cancellation.
Be sure to back up any important emails or forward them to a new email address. Notify anyone who needs to know about the change.
If you have a VOIP phone service, your new service provider can help you to keep your old phone number. If you don’t want to lose your old telephone number, be sure to discuss this with potential new providers before finalizing any agreement.
Lastly, if you use your own hardware and prefer to continue doing so, add checking its compatibility with the service to the list of things to discuss with providers.
Research your Options
Before taking the plunge, be sure that the option you’re choosing really is better than the one you already have. Points to look out for include:
- Speed: Download speeds will affect all users, while upload speeds are only important if you need to upload large files. You can check your usage history using your current service provider’s app (if they have one). This can help you determine what speeds you need. However, you already know your online habits, so it’s possible to make a judgment call based on that.
- Usage allowance (cap): Many plans offer unlimited data usage, but don’t take that as a given. Always check.
- Contract: You should be able to get a month-to-month service, but it may be more expensive than a two-year-contract. If you opt for the latter, check whether cancellation fees are charged and whether there’s a grace period for penalty-free cancellation if the service isn’t all you thought it would be. .
- Cost: Costs vary widely between providers, so be sure to look around and evaluate your options based on your needs.
- Service reputation: The reliability of your service will be important, and when things go wrong, customer service will matter. Find out what people are saying about the providers you’re interested in.
- Type of service: Although you’ll see what speeds you’re getting when you view offers, the type of service impacts both speed and reliability. Fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) is the fastest and most reliable, followed by Fibre-to-the-node (FTTN). Although it’s an older technology, cable may be adequate, but it’s less reliable and has slow upload speeds. DSL is the old copper cable system, and it’s the slowest option.
Be sure to check our reviews of internet service providers. They will give you some pointers in advance.
Shortlisting providers and choosing a plan that works for you may not take as much research as you’d expect.
Making the Change
1. Transfer From Your Old ISP to the New One
The easiest way to do this is to ask your new ISP if they will handle the transfer for you. This saves you time and ensures a seamless transition.
Once you’ve confirmed that you want them to do this for you, your new internet service provider will ensure that your old service is cancelled on the day your new service commences.
If a technician is needed to install your new service, set an appointment date. The provider will carry out your instructions on service cancellation accordingly.
2. Return Equipment and Pay Your Final Bill
Although your new internet service provider can manage the transfer from one service to another on your behalf, you’re still responsible for checking what your old provider needs from you after cancellation.
This may include returning hardware that came with the old service and paying any outstanding bills, including cancellation fees if you have cancelled a contract-based service.
Switching Internet Service Providers: Final Thoughts
If you’re switching to save costs, the primary obstacle may be contract cancellation charges.
For example, Bell currently charges a $75 cancellation fee for contracts terminated within the first year of service. However, if you have a month-to-month plan, this won’t apply to you.
For the rest, it’s a lot easier to switch ISPs than most people think it is. The main thing to consider is whether there really are better options.
Our reviews are a good starting point. Once you’ve spotted promising options, you can check on availability at your address using the ISP’s website.
From there, the process should be trouble-free – just follow our pointers for an easy transition.
