4 Things To Ask Before Signing A Contract With A New ISP

Need to sign up for Internet service, but you are being asked to sign a contract as part of it? If so, it will help to ask the following things before you sign a contract so that you know exactly what kind of service you are getting.

Will The Rate Be Locked For The Duration Of the Contract? 

One of the first things that you should ask is if there is a guarantee about the rate that you will be paying for Internet service if you sign a contract. While you will be locked into that Internet service provider for a while, it will give you some peace of mind if that contract comes with a rate lock. Then you know for sure that your rates will remain the same, even if they increase for customers that are not currently under contract.

How Can You Break Your Contract If Necessary?

Know that there are always ways to break a contract if you absolutely have to. Make sure that you know the details of what is involved so that you can have reasonable expectations. For example, you may have to pay $10 for each month remaining of your contract or a flat cancelation fee. Some ISPs will waive the cancelation fee if you move to an area where they do not provide service. It really depends on each provider's contract and what the wording is.

How Can Service Be Terminated?

Be aware that there may be terms in the contract where the ISP can actually terminate your service. This could include frequently going over a data cap and incurring a specific number of warnings, or even doing things such as sharing copyrighted material with other people. Find out what reasons can be used to terminate the services so you can be sure to avoid them. 

Is There A Service Uptime Guarantee?

Internet service is not always 100% reliable, since bad weather can cause an outage. However, you'll want to know what kind of guarantee is provided with your Internet service, and what your ISP does to uphold this guarantee. It could mean getting credit at the end of the month for the days that you are without service but requires you to call in and ask for the credit to be applied.

There are just a few things to look out for before you sign a contract with a new Internet provider.