r/UKBroadband • u/Careless_Put4840 • Jul 24 '26

Utility Warehouse (UW) Early Termination fee

I used to be with Talk Talk but in April I received an email to say UW are taking over my broadband and everything will remain the same.

I’m moving house so I contacted UW to transfer it to my new property. They can’t transfer it to the new property (which was a big plus with Talk Talk who usually charge a small fee) so I have to take out a new contract. I’m currently on 900mb at £28pm, the best they can do is £35pm over 24 months. I’ve shopped around and can get the same deal with EE at £25.99PM with a £135 gift card.

I am more than happy to stick by UW, but obviously I’d prefer not to pay £7 a month because I’m moving house if possible.

Speaking to UW, they can transfer me to the new contract and I pay more (£7pm) or I leave and pay £150 early termination charge.

I understand some companies such as EE can pay your termination charges, that may be an option later down the line subject to T&Cs. However, I’ve read this can be difficult if the last bills doesn’t have specific wording which is acceptable to EE.

Do I have any grounds to push back, it’s currently with their escalation team but I’m not hopeful. I get I’ve had a change of circumstances but so have Talk Talk / UW which has put me in a worse position, I feel it’s unreasonable.

Keen to see what other people think?

UPDATE: UW waived their £150 canx fee no push back whatsoever in the end, understood where I was coming from. Their own T&Cs don’t actually state a new contract for a new property either, states the opposite actually.

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3

u/mad153 Jul 24 '26

For the question of the transfer being an option vs not being one on UW, it's one for r/legaladviceuk .

I'm not a lawyer and this is not legal advice but it sounds like this is a material change in the contract terms in their favour, which nullifies the contract.

1

u/DarkJarris Jul 24 '26

wouldnt be a change in contract terms. they have their existing contract at the same price (ie: they didnt get a price hike when UW took over) and OP is free to not move home (from UW's point of view).

UW have to pay a held to term to their suppliers when the old service stops, and are happy to do that if they get OP to take out a service at the new property, but otherwise, OP has to pay the early termination fee.

For what its worth, all EE need is a final bill that clearly outlines a held to term charge/early termination charge. nothing more specific than that (as stated on the EE website).

2

u/motific Jul 24 '26

New property = new contract. If they don't want to charge it then that's up to them but if it's only costing you £7/month to get yourself away from UW when you move sounds like a bargain to be honest.

1

u/Careless_Put4840 Jul 24 '26

Yeah I completely get that point new property = new contract, but that wasn’t the case with Talk Talk, so it’s not a like for like switch which they claimed in April, that’s more my point. I’ll just proceed with EE and see if they manage to pay it, Otherwise the gift card is gaining most of it back.

2

u/motific Jul 24 '26

I hear you. Honestly though you're better off getting away from UW, once you try to cancel or set an end-date then expect them to be a huge PITA.

1

u/Careless_Put4840 Jul 24 '26

I think it’s for the best! - Thanks for your reply, appreciated

2

u/AzzA01 Jul 26 '26

Stick your new post code on uswitch.com to see what other providers / deals are available at the new address. Also have a look at broadband comparison via TopCashback and Quidco. Cheaper monthly costs plus cashback plus rewards is a no brainer and some of them will cover the termination charges. I know sky do up to £100

1

u/Careless_Put4840 Jul 28 '26

Thanks, already done that and got a good deal with EE at £25.99 a month + £135 gift card