Your broadband consumer rights
Dan Howdle • August 30th, 2024
Your broadband contract is a legal agreement binding you and your provider together for an agreed fixed term, usually 18 to 24 months. The deal is that you pay the fees and they provide the service. So what are your rights as a consumer when something goes wrong?
Whether you are not getting the broadband speed you are paying for or your equipment is faulty, your broadband provider could be potentially breaking their side of the contract if they do not take action to remedy the problem within a reasonable period. In this guide, we look at some of the issues that can crop up, and what your rights are as a consumer.
Your rights as a broadband consumer
In addition to the standard Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations, which give you the right to cancel or return any online purchase within 14 days without penalty, there are several other laws that protect your rights as a consumer when it comes to broadband that are useful to know in case you have an issue with your service.
- Goods and services must be fit for purpose, of satisfactory quality and as described, according to the Consumer Rights Act 2015. In other words, your router should work, your broadband connection should work, and you should be receiving the speeds you expect
- The contract with your provider should be fair
- Both you and your provider must comply with the terms of the agreed contract. This means you pay for the agreed period and your provider supplies the equipment and level of service(s) agreed
- You have the right to cancel your contract at any point, although in some situations you will be charged a cancellation fee
- Your provider must be registered with an Ofcom-approved ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Scheme according to the Communications Act 2003, which you can turn to for help if your complaint is not being resolved by your provider
How to complain about your service
If you have a problem that arises after the standard 14-day cooling-off period, your first action should always be to get in touch with your provider. In most cases, there will be a free number to call, so even if you have to wait to speak to someone, you won’t be charged. Alternatively, you can use online chat via the provider’s website if it is available, send an email, or write a letter if that’s your preference. For a faster response, try getting in touch on your provider’s Twitter or Facebook page.
If your broadband is too slow
There can be a number of reasons as to why your broadband speed is not up to scratch. Before you do anything, run a speed test on a device that is connected to your router with a cable as WiFi connections tend to be much slower and will not be accepted as proof of slow speed by your provider. When you signed up for your service, you will have been provided with an estimated expected speed for a wired connection, and you can use that information to evaluate how well your service is being delivered.
Broadband providers advertise the average speed that customers can expect from a specific package, not the actual speed. Most providers, including BT, Sky, Virgin Media, Hyperoptic, EE, Vodafone, Plusnet and TalkTalk, are signed up to Ofcom’s Voluntary Code of Practice, which requires them to tell you what speed you should expect to receive at your property before you sign up. However, if it is simply the case that the broadband speed you chose is inadequate for your household’s needs, then your supplier is not responsible for your dissatisfaction.
Before contacting your provider to complain, make sure your router is in an optimal position in your home. This should ideally be close to where you spend most of your time, not blocked behind any furniture or close to anything that can cause interference such as a fish tank or fairy lights.
Once you’ve done this, report the problem to your provider and ask that they check the line. It may be a problem they can fix remotely or by a visit from an engineer. If you find that the problem is not fixed within a reasonable time frame and you are still not getting the speed agreed when you signed up, then you can ask for compensation or to cancel your service without penalty.
Compensation for Slow Broadband
| Speed Issue | Action | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband speed significantly lower than estimated | Report to provider, allow time for resolution | Compensation or right to cancel without penalty |
| Provider fails to resolve speed issue | Follow up with a formal complaint | Compensation or contract termination |
If your broadband connection is not working
If your broadband service has dropped out completely – or stops intermittently – you should ask your provider to investigate immediately. In many cases, your provider will offer compensation if you are without a working service for a couple of days or more. If you are without a broadband connection for four weeks, you are entitled to leave your contract without penalty.
Compensation for Broadband Outages
| Issue | Compensation You Can Expect |
|---|---|
| Broadband outage lasting longer than 48 hours | £8.40 for each day the service is not repaired |
| Service not functioning for four weeks | Right to leave contract without penalty |
If you are being overcharged
If you think that you are being overcharged, carefully check what your contract says regarding fees; it could be that you have made phone calls out of your calls package – to premium numbers, for example – or exceeded your usage limit if you have a data allowance. If neither of these issues apply, then get in touch with your provider’s customer services and explain that you are paying too much and would like a refund. If no refund is forthcoming, you should make a formal complaint.
If your provider raised its prices mid-contract, then it should have given you notice of this, giving you the chance to cancel your contract and leave without penalty. If it did not give you notice, then you have grounds for complaint.
Compensation for Overcharging
| Issue | Compensation You Can Expect |
|---|---|
| Overcharged due to provider error | Refund of overcharged amount |
| Price increase without notice | Right to cancel contract without penalty |
If your equipment is faulty
If you suspect that your router or other technical equipment is not functioning properly, contact your provider to ask for a replacement or to have it repaired. If your provider does not fix the issue within a reasonable time, then you have grounds to complain.
How to contact an ADR Scheme
If you have issued a complaint through your provider’s formal complaint process and it has still not been resolved after eight weeks, then you should request a deadlock letter from your provider. This is formal acknowledgment that a resolution cannot be reached, and you can take things to the Alternative Resolution Dispute (ADR) Scheme.
All providers are obliged to use either CISAS or Ombudsman Services: Communications. You can find out which scheme your provider uses by looking on their website or contacting Ofcom. The ADR will act as an independent mediator between you and your provider and will work to achieve a resolution to the issue you’ve raised.
How to cancel your broadband
If you decide that you have had enough and want to leave your current broadband provider, you will need to check where you are in your fixed contract period. If your initial 18-month contract has passed, then you are free to leave without penalty at any point. If, however, you are still mid-contract, you are likely to be charged termination fees unless you can prove you are not receiving the service you are paying for, or that the provider has made insufficient effort at resolving your problem.
If you are out of your initial contract period, you simply need to contact your provider and inform them of your intention to leave. We advise that you shop around for a new deal before you make the leap however, so that you are not left without a service. Be aware that some providers charge a small exit fee to any customer that chooses to leave – whatever point they are at in their contract.
Broadband Cancellation Fees
| Reason for Cancellation | Potential Fees |
|---|---|
| Cancellation within the initial contract period | Early termination fees may apply |
| Cancellation due to provider failure to deliver service | No fees; right to cancel without penalty |
| Out of contract period | No penalty, but small exit fee may apply |
When to expect compensation
In certain circumstances, your provider may offer compensation payments. If there is a delay in starting your new broadband service, or in fixing a problem, or even if an engineer has missed an appointment, you should be eligible to receive automatic compensation. Several providers, including BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Plusnet, Vodafone and Virgin Media, have signed up to an automatic compensation scheme, which will automatically make payments to customers in these circumstances.
