A broadband provider is offering up to nine months of full fibre internet free, plus the chance to pocket more than £160 with a money-saving hack. Hyperoptic has launched its Switch Now service after a study revealed that more than 19 million households are stuck in contracts that often give them slow and poor-quality internet, with a price rise looming in 2023.
But more than a third of people who want to switch provider are put off making the move because of the cost of cancelling their current contact. And a quarter fear a loss of broadband during the changeover. Hyperoptic will provide free broadband for up to nine months for households stuck in a contract. It will run at the same time as a that of a householder’s current provider, guaranteeing no loss of service in the switchover.
And a clever hack means switchers can also save cash by paying an early contract exit fee – typically around half the value of the full contract term – and get Hyperoptic’s free broadband at the same time. For instance, a BT customer paying £35 a month would fork out £315 over nine months. But BT’s own calculator shows an early exit fee of around £153, meaning switching customers could be £162 better off.
Customers will also avoid their costs going up even further when the major providers apply their annual price rises next spring, which are forecast to top 20%.
Hyperoptic CEO Dana Tobak said: “This is a ground-breaking move, unprecedented in the world of broadband, but people across the UK need this support right now. We honestly believe that it’s the right of every household in the country to have fast, reliable, and affordable broadband.
“No one should be held captive by a contract for an overpriced, underwhelming service. That’s why we’re offering full fibre broadband free, helping people avoid these massive price increases.”
Dana added: “We’re confident that customers will choose our superior service and fair, transparent prices. It’s wrong for providers to massively hike prices when the country is in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, and we’re working to stop that.
“We launched our ‘ Fair Fibre Framework ’ this year to support customers with the cost of living crisis. We also continue to ask Ofcom to investigate the use of inflation-busting, mid-contract price rises. These are hitting already squeezed households with another price hike that many are unaware they’ve even signed up to.”
