I've just discovered that BT might impose a Broadband Cease Charge, where the service is ended in certain circumstances. At present it is £31.

Quote:

This, according to Plusnet which makes an equivalent charge, is because BT Wholesale levy a fee "to cover the cost of removing broadband from a phone line."

I took it as read that whilst under contract the subscriber would have to pay to leave, but assumed that once the term is up that ending the service would be at no charge.

There is an article from Which? on this: Hidden broadband ‘cessation’ charges. According to it, Sky doesn't impose such a charge, but BT, Plusnet, EE Broadband, John Lewis Broadband and Utility Warehouse do. So it seems varied as to whether ISPs absorb the charges made to them or not.

Hi rolandm and welcome to the forum.

I am not sure where we are on this one. I am interested to learn of any further developments in this area.

I don't know whether such cease charges have been abolished or not. They are not there to disincentivise ceasing broadband per se, but are there to cover the cost of cessation. A fine is a penalty and only the state can impose such – this is not a fine.

While it might apply to other network operators, this thread was started in relation to broadband supplied by BT's wholesale division (BT Wholesale), which is sold by its retail arm (BT), Plusnet, EE and others.

At the exchange end of the line, the wires connect to equipment which provides the broadband, meaning that the line is occupying capacity on that equipment. This is for the older type of broadband, ADSL. With what is often marketed as 'superfast' broadband, fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC), the broadband is applied at the cabinet rather than the exchange. When broadband on a line is ceased, it must be disconnected (either at the exchange or the cabinet) in order that the equipment becomes vacant to supply broadband to another user. The charge is for this work to be carried out.


The question is whether such costs should be passed on directly to those end users who choose to cease – or whether they should be absorbed by the business, as a general expense of providing service.