Original article ISPreview UK:Read More
New research from Broadband Genie and OnePoll, which surveyed a total of 3,997 broadband bill payers in the UK between July and November 2024, has revealed that 60% of respondents are out-of-contract – varying between a peak of 64% for those aged 65+ and a low of 55% for those aged 18-24. But many of these could be paying extra by failing to switch ISP.
However, when asked why such people hadn’t switched ISP, some 45% of over-65s and a “large proportion in other age groups” (sadly we didn’t get the full results) said it was because they “like their provider“, which seems like a fair enough reason.
The survey assumes that those out-of-contract will be “overpaying“. But while this may be true for the majority of respondents, which will be using one of the biggest providers where variable discounts for new and re-contracting customers are common, there will be others with smaller ISPs – and those on monthly terms from the start – where pricing is kept flat and annual hikes don’t occur.
The other issue is that not all of us choose an ISP based purely on price. Some providers provide features and levels of service or support that others do not, which can also be a consideration. So while it’s good to switch and the regulator’s One Touch Switching (OTS) process has made that a lot easier, it’s important to remember that it’s not always about the savings you can make.
Percentage of bill payers out of contract by age
| Age category | % out of contract |
| 18 – 24 | 55% |
| 25 – 34 | 57% |
| 35 – 44 | 60% |
| 45 – 54 | 61% |
| 55 – 64 | 61% |
| 65+ | 64% |
| Average | 60% |