Long contract or short-term contract?

adam · #1 07-07-2007, 07:23 AM

The 12-month or 18-month contracts are really exasperating part of of signing up for a broadband package. To make things worse, all ISPs make the customers to pay cancellation fee if anyone cancels the contract before its expiry.

There are both pros and cons of long contracts. With the long contract, you may get free modem or router or other special offers. They also slash monthly cost if you are ready to commit to such broadband deals. If you wish to go for a bundled service that combines broadband, TV and telephony, the long contract is the best option. It is much cheaper.

Short-term contracts are ideal when you just need a simple broadband service. They don't bind you for one year or more like longer contracts but you are often deprived of the benefits that you will enjoy when you sign up for a long contract.

As the needs of UK broadband customers are constantly changing, the ISPs should adopt more flexibility in their services. They should strike a balance between short-term contracts and long contracts.

JenniP · #2 07-08-2007, 09:34 PM

Most Broadband providers are just doing the same as BT for land lines or your mobile provider locking you into a long term contract.

Saying that I'm with ADSL24.co.uk and their contract is only a month, its one of the things that attracted me to them, so I knew I would be stuck with them for a year if they sucked, although so far (only been with them 2 weeks no sign of suckyness yet :-))

Jen

hazephase · #3 07-10-2007, 09:54 AM

They want you to fix up with them so that you can not go any place else , this is what I hate about these companys they don't allow you to live your life , ass*****

saubryn · #4 07-10-2007, 06:26 PM

Twelve month contracts I can live with - I didn't realise they were doing 18 month contracts now though!

I've had some success in getting cancellation fees waived for friends - usually they're cancelling because of a problem with the service - if you kick up enough of a stink you can get them to either waive the fee, or reduce the cost of the service enough to make it worth staying. Still, you shouldn't HAVE to do that IMO.

kheyanne · #5 07-12-2007, 01:55 AM

Go for long-term contract if and only if you are sure that the broadband service provider's service is excellent. As some friends within you area if they have encountered any problem with the broadband service. If they haven't then its fine to go long-term.

But if you are merely trying out a new service, you might want to spare yourself some horror stories with your broadband connection by going short-term. Upgrade after evaluating the service.

JenniP · #6 07-12-2007, 07:24 AM

The trouble is you can almost never be sure it will be, I hear our support desk explaining day after day why the "upto" 8meg connection only runs at 2meg, even though when they ordered thats what they were told the line was likely to run at.

But yes things I find good to know

Whats the fair use policy
Do they use port throttling
Do they use traffic shaping
If they port throttle or shape traffic is it between certain hours
If it a UK call centre
Is it a free or at worst local rate call

Jen

hazephase · #7 07-13-2007, 09:17 AM

The problem is that once they get too many people they don't up date there net work and its the people that have to suffer , if you have taken a long term plan , then its bad news , if you take a short term then you miss on the discounts .

Smash · #8 08-01-2007, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by JenniP

The trouble is you can almost never be sure it will be, I hear our support desk explaining day after day why the "upto" 8meg connection only runs at 2meg, even though when they ordered thats what they were told the line was likely to run at.

But yes things I find good to know

Whats the fair use policy
Do they use port throttling
Do they use traffic shaping
If they port throttle or shape traffic is it between certain hours
If it a UK call centre
Is it a free or at worst local rate call

Jen

Nice post,

I will have to learn about port throttling, I understand the traffic shaping, but have no idea how you can throttle a port (isn't it the same thing, the packets go in/out of the port).

attagirl · #9 08-02-2007, 08:23 PM

Sometimes this happens strickly because they feel that if mobile suppliers can do it they should be able to do it as well. I think that making people sign a contract for Internet service is terrible, because I should not be tied into a service if i am not happy with it.

James · #10 08-18-2007, 07:32 PM

I currently have a monthly contract and boy do I pay for it. Of course a long term contract has its disadvantages, but in my wife's business she offers discounts for block bookings. She prefers the certainty of the income and is prepared to sacrifice a considerable amount of money for this certainty. So long term contracts may be in your interest.