How to switch internet providers
Switching is easier than most people expect. The one rule that prevents trouble: do not cancel the old service until the new one is working.
- Check for an early termination fee before you order.
- Overlap the two services by a few days.
- Return old equipment and keep the receipt.
Step 1: Read your current terms
Look at a recent bill or your online account. You are looking for two things: whether you are in a term agreement, and what it costs to leave early. Fees usually shrink each month. If you are a month or two from the end, waiting can be cheaper.
Step 2: See what else reaches you
Check every connection type at your address, not only the one you have now. Fiber or 5G home internet may have arrived since you last looked. Compare the price after the promotion ends, not just the first-year price.
Step 3: Give your current provider one chance
Call and say you are planning to leave. Ask what they can offer. Providers often have a better rate for customers who are about to cancel. If the offer is good, you save the hassle. If not, you have lost ten minutes.
Step 4: Order the new service and overlap
Schedule the new install first. Keep the old service running until the new one is up and you have tested it for a day or two. A few days of double billing is cheap insurance against a missed install.
Step 5: Cancel and return equipment
Call to cancel and ask for a confirmation number. Return the modem, router and any TV boxes to a store or by the prepaid label, and keep the receipt until your final bill is settled. Check that final bill for a prorated credit.
One thing people forget
If you use an email address that came from your provider, it may close when you leave. Move important accounts to an independent email address first.
Common questions
Will I be without internet when I switch?
Not if you overlap. Install the new service before cancelling the old one.
Will the new provider pay my cancellation fee?
Some offer a credit toward it. Ask the agent, and get the terms in writing.
Does switching hurt my credit?
Some providers run a credit check for new accounts. Ask whether it is a soft or hard check before you agree.