Broadband Switching Credit: UK Providers That Pay Exit Fees

Leaving broadband before the minimum contract ends can trigger an early termination charge of £100 or more. A switching-credit offer reduces that cost by adding credit to your new broadband account, reimbursing your bank account or issuing a prepaid card.

The largest confirmed offer is currently Fibrus’s contribution of up to £400. Virgin Media, Hyperoptic, YouFibre, BeFibre, brsk and Zzoomm offer up to £300, subject to their individual package and claim rules.

The highest figure is not automatically the best deal. Some providers only pay the exact early termination charge, some exclude TV or mobile cancellation fees, and account credit cannot be used to pay the old provider. Compare the new monthly price, contract length, speed and total contract cost before switching.

This guide was checked on 29 August 2026. Virgin Media’s current offer is scheduled to end on 20 September 2026. Switching offers change regularly, so confirm the credit during the order journey and save a copy of the offer conditions.

Broadband switching credit offers at a glance

The table lists confirmed offers available when this guide was checked. A maximum of £300 does not mean every customer receives £300. The provider normally pays the eligible exit charge shown on the final bill, capped at its stated limit.

Enter your postcode to compare broadband deals available at your premises. Check the deal summary for switching credit, reward cards and any package-specific conditions before ordering.

Switching credit from major broadband providers

EE switching credit

EE contributes up to £200 when an eligible customer switches broadband. The maximum increases to £300 when the order includes an eligible EE TV service and the customer also faces qualifying TV cancellation charges.

EE applies the payment as account credit. You must pay the previous provider yourself, obtain the final bill and email it to EE's switching team within four months of activation. The document needs to show the early termination charge clearly.

The offer is invitation-only. It excludes termination charges from BT, EE and Plusnet, including moves between these related brands. Business broadband charges are also excluded. If separate broadband and TV bills apply, send both bills together rather than making two claims.

EE starts processing the claim after the 14-day cooling-off period. Valid credit can take up to 28 days to appear after the claim has been approved.

BT switching credit

BT offers up to £200 towards broadband termination charges or up to £300 when an eligible BT TV order accompanies the broadband switch.

The previous provider must be paid first. Send the final bill to BT's switching team within four months of activation, with the customer's name, old provider and termination charge visible. BT then adds the approved amount to the new account.

This is an invitation-only offer. Charges from BT, EE and Plusnet do not qualify, so it cannot fund a move between those brands. It also excludes business broadband termination charges.

Account credit lowers future BT bills; it does not reimburse the current account directly. This distinction matters if the old provider collects a large final payment before BT applies the credit.

Sky switching credit

Sky pays up to £200 towards an eligible broadband exit charge. TV customers can claim up to £100 for leaving a previous television service, or up to £300 in total when switching both broadband and TV.

Claims must reach Sky within 90 days. Pay the old provider, then send proof of the paid final bill with the early termination charge clearly identified. Sky applies the approved sum to the new account rather than transferring money to the bank.

The £300 maximum only applies when both eligible services generate qualifying charges. A broadband-only customer cannot claim the unused TV allowance.

Check the order summary for the eligible Sky TV service. The broadband and TV parts of the claim should use bills in the same customer's name wherever possible.

Virgin Media switching credit

Virgin Media currently offers up to £300 in account credit to eligible new switching customers. The offer is scheduled to end on 20 September 2026, so customers ordering after that date need to check whether it has been renewed or replaced.

The old provider's final bill must be dated no more than 30 days before the Virgin Media order. Pay the termination charge in full, activate Virgin Media and submit the claim within 60 days of activation.

Virgin Media applies approved credit within 28 days. It does not pay cash, and credit is not added during the first 14 days. Cancelling the new service before the credit arrives invalidates the claim.

Student Broadband, 30-day rolling services and Essential Broadband are excluded. The credit cannot exceed the eligible early termination charge shown on the old provider's bill.

Vodafone switching credit

Vodafone offers up to £200 in account credit with selected 24-month full-fibre plans ordered directly. The eligible fixed-line range includes Full Fibre 150, 500 and 900, plus selected multi-gigabit packages where available.

Vodafone emails the claim form 14 to 30 days after activation. The customer then has 90 days to upload the old provider's final bill. The name and home details on the claim need to agree with the Vodafone order, and the bill must show the early termination charge.

Approved credit can take up to 30 days to reach the Vodafone account. It reduces forthcoming bills and does not fund the old provider's Direct Debit.

Vodafone also offers up to £200 with selected 5G Home Broadband orders. Eligibility varies by contract, so confirm the switching-credit entry in the basket before paying.

Three Home Broadband switching credit

Three offers up to £200 to customers taking a new 24-month 4G or 5G Home Broadband contract. Existing Three customers can also qualify when adding an eligible new Home Broadband line.

The one-month option does not qualify. Claims open 14 days after the service starts and close after 90 days. The final bill must display the customer's name, home details and the early termination charge.

Three adds approved credit to the new account within 30 days. As with other account-credit offers, the customer needs enough money to pay the previous provider before the benefit arrives.

Mobile home broadband does not always use the same switching process as a fixed line. Do not cancel an existing fixed broadband service until the new connection has been tested and the transfer arrangements are clear.

Full-fibre contract buyout offers

Smaller full-fibre networks often use switching credit to reduce the cost of leaving a national provider. Their offers can be more generous, but postcode coverage and package rules are tighter.

Hyperoptic switching credit

Hyperoptic offers up to £300 in non-refundable account credit in selected postcodes. The scheme applies to eligible 24-month 150Mbps, 500Mbps and 1Gbps packages.

The maximum depends on both the new speed and Hyperoptic's monthly package price:

• 150Mbps: up to £50 when the monthly price is below £12, or £100 from £12.
• 500Mbps: up to £50 below £12, £150 from £12 to £20.99, or £200 from £21.
• 1Gbps: up to £50 below £12, £150 from £12 to £20.99, £200 from £21 to £24.99, or £300 from £25.

Hyperoptic only credits the qualifying termination charge, even when the package allows a larger maximum. Unused account credit is lost if the service ends, and it cannot be used to pay a termination charge owed to Hyperoptic.

Some affiliate promotions cannot be combined with this scheme unless Hyperoptic confirms otherwise. Check both benefits in the order summary before completing the purchase.

YouFibre switching credit

YouFibre reimburses up to £300 directly to the customer's bank account on eligible 24-month packages. This can be more useful than account credit because it replaces money already paid to the previous provider.

The final bill must show a separate early termination charge and use the same name and home details as the YouFibre account. Estimates, screenshots without the necessary account information and bills that do not itemise the charge can be rejected.

The new service must be live, the first YouFibre bill must be paid and the Direct Debit must remain active. Submit the final bill within 90 days of its date in PDF, PNG or JPG format, with a file size below 10MB.

BeFibre switching credit

BeFibre's contribution rises with the selected package. Be200 allows up to £100, Be500 up to £150, Be1000 up to £200 and Be2300 up to £300.

The customer must enrol for the switching scheme and send acceptable proof of the former provider's termination charge. Both 12-month and 24-month variants appear in the eligible package range, but availability and plan names can differ by postcode.

Choose the package for its speed, upload performance, monthly price and contract length. Paying more solely to unlock a larger credit can increase the total contract cost.

brsk switching credit

brsk offers up to £300 as account credit with selected BetterNet fixed-term packages. The credit pays future brsk invoices rather than the old provider.

Request the offer by phone during the order. An online order completed without joining the switching scheme can miss the benefit. Keep the final bill and proof of payment ready for the claim.

The eligible contract and package can change by campaign, so ask the adviser to include the maximum and claim route in the order confirmation.

Fibrus switching credit

Fibrus contributes up to £400 towards an eligible broadband termination charge, the highest confirmed maximum in this comparison.

The claim must be submitted within 40 days of the Fibrus service starting. Fibrus can request proof that the old bill has been paid. The scheme applies to broadband exit fees rather than unrelated mobile or subscription cancellation charges.

A £400 maximum only benefits customers with a qualifying charge at that level. The payment cannot exceed the eligible broadband fee shown on the final bill.

Quickline switching credit

Quickline offers up to £300 with selected full-fibre packages. Instead of reducing the broadband bill, it issues the approved sum on a prepaid Mastercard.

The card route gives customers more flexibility than account credit, but it still arrives after the old provider's charge has been paid and the claim has passed validation. Check the redemption and expiry rules when the card arrives.

LightSpeed switching credit

LightSpeed reimburses up to £250 with its 150Mbps and 500Mbps packages, rising to £350 with eligible 1Gbps, 2Gbps and 5Gbps services.

Customers need to call to order and submit proof of the exit charge within 30 days of installation. The new service must remain active for 30 days and the first bill must be paid. LightSpeed then sends the approved reimbursement to the customer's bank account, normally within five days of the first payment.

The faster plan should still be suitable for the household's actual usage. A larger exit-fee allowance does not justify a more expensive package that remains unnecessary for the rest of the contract.

KCOM switching credit

KCOM's switching offer applies in its expansion areas outside the traditional Hull postcode range of HU1 to HU17.

The maximum rises by package: £50 on 100Mbps, £100 on 300Mbps, £150 on 500Mbps and £200 on 900Mbps. Submit proof of the paid termination charge within 90 days of activation. KCOM adds approved credit to the broadband account within 30 days.

Customers in Hull need to check the deals available for their specific premises because this switching-credit scheme excludes HU1–HU17.

GoFibre switching credit

GoFibre contributes up to £200 when a new customer leaves a broadband contract with an early termination charge. The approved amount is added to the GoFibre account.

Claims are reviewed within seven days once the required evidence has arrived. Keep the complete final bill rather than cropping the image to the cancellation line, as the reviewer also needs to verify the customer and account details.

Zzoomm switching credit

Zzoomm's package-based allowance starts at £100 on 200Mbps, increases to £150 on 500Mbps and £200 on 1Gbps, and reaches £300 on 2.3Gbps.

Enrol for the switching scheme on the same day as the broadband order. The claim window lasts 90 days, but leaving enrolment until after the order can remove eligibility.

The payment is account credit. Compare the full cost of the selected package rather than choosing 2.3Gbps solely for the £300 maximum.

Account credit, bank reimbursement and prepaid cards

The words “switching credit” can describe three different forms of payment. They all reduce the financial impact of leaving early, but they affect cash flow differently.

Account credit still has full value if the customer remains with the new provider long enough to use it. It becomes less useful when the household cannot afford the old final bill upfront or expects to cancel the new service before all the credit has been consumed.

Switching-credit claim process

Most rejected claims fail because the customer ordered through an ineligible route, missed the deadline or sent a bill that did not identify the early termination charge.

Use this sequence:

1. Ask the old provider for the exact early termination charge before ordering.
2. Confirm that the new package, order route and postcode qualify for switching credit.
3. Save the offer conditions, order summary and confirmation email.
4. Let the new provider arrange an eligible fixed-line switch through One Touch Switch.
5. Pay the old provider's final bill in full unless the new provider gives different written instructions.
6. Download the complete final bill showing the customer name, account details and separate exit charge.
7. Submit the claim within the stated time limit.
8. Keep the claim acknowledgement until the bank payment, card or account credit arrives.

Do not send an estimated cancellation figure when the provider requires a final paid bill. A quote proves the expected cost but does not prove that the old contract ended or that the charge was paid.

[Image placement: A horizontal switching-credit timeline showing order, activation, old final bill, claim deadline, validation and payment. Suggested alt text: Steps and deadlines for claiming UK broadband switching credit.]

One Touch Switch and switching credit

One Touch Switch lets residential customers move between eligible fixed-line broadband providers without contacting the old provider to cancel. The new provider starts the transfer, and the old provider sends information about the contract end date and any early termination charge before the switch completes.

The switching service does not submit a credit claim. The customer still needs to obtain the final bill, pay it where required and send the evidence to the new provider.

Do not cancel the old fixed broadband separately when One Touch Switch applies. A manual cancellation can interrupt the transfer, create a gap in service or cause the old line to close before the new provider completes its work.

Some switches need a different process, including certain new installations and mobile 4G or 5G Home Broadband services. Follow the instructions in the new provider's order confirmation.

Check whether switching saves money

A large credit can distract from a higher monthly price or a long contract. Compare the cost of switching now with the cost of remaining until the existing minimum term ends.

Start with these figures:

• the exact early termination charge;
• the eligible switching credit, limited to the exit charge;
• setup, installation and delivery charges;
• the new monthly price across the full contract;
• scheduled annual price increases;
• reward cards or bill credits that can be combined with the switching scheme; and
• the value of any service benefits that the household will actually use.

For a quick break-even check, use:

Unpaid switching cost = exit charge + new setup charges ? switching credit ? compatible cash rewards

Monthly saving = old monthly price ? new monthly price

Break-even period = unpaid switching cost ÷ monthly saving

If the new package costs more each month, there is no monthly-price break-even point. The switch can still be worthwhile for faster speeds, better upload performance, wider Wi-Fi coverage or a more reliable connection, but those benefits need to justify the additional cost.

[Interactive tool placement: Stay or switch broadband calculator. Inputs: old monthly price, months remaining, exit charge, new monthly price, new contract length, setup charge, switching credit, reward value and annual price changes. Results: upfront cash needed, net switching cost, break-even month and total contract cost.]

Total cost of staying and switching

Use the same comparison period for both options. Comparing three months with the old provider against a 24-month bill from the new provider produces a misleading result.

An accurate total should include:

• all monthly payments during the chosen period;
• the part of the exit charge that the credit does not reimburse;
• setup and delivery charges;
• mid-contract price increases that can be calculated;
• account credit and compatible rewards; and
• any paid whole-home Wi-Fi, calls or television add-ons.

Treat account credit as a reduction in future broadband bills, not cash received on the switch date. If the household needs £250 to pay the old final bill and receives £250 of new-account credit a month later, it still needs £250 available in the meantime.

Providers without a confirmed standing switching-credit offer

No standing exit-fee contribution was verified on the research date for TalkTalk, Plusnet, NOW, Zen, Community Fibre, Gigaclear, toob or Grain.

These providers can still offer competitive broadband prices, free setup, discounted months or reward cards. Those benefits are different from switching credit because they do not necessarily depend on an early termination charge.

Seasonal campaigns can appear without much notice. If an order page mentions a contract buyout, check the eligible package, claim deadline and payment method before completing the order.

G.Network displays wording for an offer of up to £150, but the accompanying important conditions found during this review had expired. Treat the offer as unconfirmed unless the value and current conditions appear in the order summary.

Claim mistakes that cause rejection

Ordering through the wrong route

Some schemes apply only to direct website orders, telephone orders or customers invited during checkout. A third-party deal can have a better reward but exclude the provider's switching credit.

Claiming with an estimate

Many providers require the final paid bill, not an early termination estimate. Wait for the document that shows the contract has ended and itemises the charge.

Missing the enrolment step

brsk requires the request during the phone order, while Zzoomm requires enrolment on the order date. A later claim cannot repair a missed registration when the scheme conditions require it upfront.

Sending incomplete evidence

The bill usually needs the customer's name, home details, previous provider, account reference and separate termination charge. Cropping away the top of the bill can remove the information needed for validation.

Missing the deadline

Claim periods range from 30 days after installation to four months after activation. Record the deadline as soon as the service goes live rather than waiting for the old provider to send reminders.

Cancelling the new service too early

A claim can fail when the new broadband is cancelled during the cooling-off period or before payment. Unused account credit can also disappear when the account closes.

Including ineligible services

Broadband credit does not automatically include mobile, streaming, device finance or unrelated subscription charges. Sky, BT and EE have specific allowances for eligible TV cancellation fees; most other schemes focus on broadband.

Choosing a switching-credit deal

Start with the broadband service, then consider the credit. Check availability at the premises, average download speed, upload speed, contract length, router, whole-home Wi-Fi options and total contract cost.

A lower credit can produce the cheaper result when the monthly price costs less throughout the contract. Equally, a bank reimbursement can be easier to use than a larger account credit when the old final bill creates an immediate cash-flow problem.

Before ordering, confirm five points:

• the exact package qualifies;
• the order route qualifies;
• the old provider and service qualify;
• the claim deadline is realistic; and
• the credit can be combined with any affiliate reward or new-customer offer.

Take a screenshot or save a PDF of the order summary. It gives you a dated record if the online offer changes before the claim is processed.

Conclusion

Fibrus currently has the highest confirmed maximum at up to £400. Virgin Media, Hyperoptic, YouFibre, BeFibre, brsk and Zzoomm reach £300, while BT, EE and Sky can also reach £300 when eligible television cancellation charges accompany the broadband switch.

Payment method matters as much as the maximum. YouFibre and LightSpeed reimburse a bank account, Quickline uses a prepaid card, and many of the major providers apply credit to future bills. With account credit, you must normally pay the old provider before receiving the benefit.

Choose the broadband package on service quality and total contract cost. Treat switching credit as a contribution towards a verified exit charge, then follow the claim process promptly and keep every bill and acknowledgement until payment arrives.

Enter your postcode to compare available broadband deals and check which switching-credit offers appear with the packages available at your premises.

Broadband switching credit FAQs

Can switching credit and a broadband reward card be claimed together?

Sometimes. The two benefits can be combined only when the order conditions allow both.

A provider-funded switching scheme can exclude affiliate offers, while a third-party deal can replace the provider’s direct-order credit with a reward card. Check that both benefits appear in the order summary. If only one appears, assume the other is not included until the provider confirms it in writing.

Does the new broadband provider pay the old provider directly?

Usually not. Most customers pay the old provider’s final bill and then claim account credit, a bank reimbursement or a prepaid card from the new provider.

The household therefore needs enough money to pay the exit charge before the switching benefit arrives.

Can broadband switching credit pay TV, phone or mobile cancellation fees?

Most schemes apply only to broadband termination charges. BT and EE increase their maximum to £300 for eligible broadband and TV switches, while Sky has separate broadband and television allowances.

Mobile contracts, handset finance, streaming subscriptions and unrelated cancellation charges are normally excluded unless the offer specifically includes them.

Can a customer moving between BT, EE and Plusnet claim switching credit?

BT and EE exclude termination charges from BT, EE and Plusnet. A move between these related brands therefore does not qualify for their switching-credit schemes.

A separate new-customer discount or reward can still apply when it appears with the selected package.

Does One Touch Switch submit the switching-credit claim?

No. One Touch Switch arranges an eligible fixed-line transfer and gives the customer advance information about any early termination charge.

The customer must still pay the old bill when required and submit the evidence to the new provider before its claim deadline.

Can two final bills be included in one claim?

Yes, when the offer includes broadband and TV termination charges and the customer receives separate bills. Submit both documents together when the provider requires a single claim.

The combined payment cannot exceed the individual broadband and TV allowances or the provider’s overall limit.

Is unused account credit lost after cancelling the new broadband?

It can be. Account credit is usually non-refundable and can only pay future bills from the new provider. Any remaining balance can be removed when the broadband account closes.

A completed bank reimbursement does not have this restriction. Prepaid cards remain subject to their own activation and expiry conditions.

Does switching credit apply to 4G or 5G Home Broadband?

Three offers up to £200 with eligible new 24-month 4G and 5G Home Broadband contracts. Vodafone also includes selected 5G Home Broadband plans in its switching offer.

The transfer process differs from a fixed-line switch. Confirm when to cancel the previous broadband and test the mobile connection before ending the old service.

Can a claim be made when the old provider sends the final bill late?

Contact the new provider before the claim deadline and keep evidence that the final bill has not arrived. Do not alter an estimate or submit an incorrect charge.

The new provider can explain whether it accepts alternative evidence or can record the delay, but it does not have to extend the claim period.

Is switching credit taxable or paid as cash?

Broadband account credit reduces future service bills and is not paid as cash. A bank reimbursement replaces an eligible termination charge the customer has already paid.

Personal tax circumstances can differ when broadband costs are claimed as a business expense. Customers using a business account or submitting expense claims should seek appropriate tax advice.