Guides › Broadband, Phone and Mobile Contracts › Can My Phone or Broadband Provider Change My Contract?
Can My Phone or Broadband Provider Change My Contract?
Providers can change contract terms, but they must give you at least one month's notice, and you can leave without penalty if the change is not to your benefit. Before you sign, you should get a one-page contract summary.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
The Short Answer
Changes to Your Terms
Providers can change contract terms, but they must give at least one month's notice, and you have the right to leave without penalty if the change does not benefit you. You cannot leave over changes that only benefit you, are purely administrative or are imposed by law, such as a VAT change. source
Information Before You Sign
Before you are bound, residential customers and small businesses with ten employees or fewer should receive a written one-page summary of the contract (three pages for bundled services) covering charges, contract length and how to cancel, followed by the fuller written contract information. source
No Inflation-Linked Rises
Since January 2025, new contracts cannot include price rises linked to inflation or set as percentages. Any planned rises must be shown clearly in pounds and pence before you sign, with the date they take effect. Contracts signed before 17 January 2025 may still contain inflation-linked or percentage rises. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 1 monthNotice of other contract changes that do not benefit youAt least one month, with a right to leave without penalty
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 4
Read the notice and note the date.
Step 2 of 4
Decide whether the change harms you.
Step 3 of 4
Tell the provider in writing you want to leave without penalty.
Step 4 of 4
If refused, complain, then use the ADR scheme.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Provider's Complaints Team
Always start here, in writing, and keep a copy.
CISAS or the Communications Ombudsman (ADR)
Six weeks after your complaint, or when you receive a deadlock letter. Free for you. Your provider will say which scheme it belongs to.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 12 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- ofcom.org.uk/complaints/complain-about-phones-or-internet-services/contracts Checked 12 October 2026
- ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/saving-money/telecoms-price-rises-what-are-your-rights Checked 12 October 2026