On this page
How to check if you are out of contract
Text INFO to 85075. Your provider replies with your contract status, without sending you a switching code (Ofcom). You can also look in your provider's app or account, or at the contract end date on your bill.
What your provider must tell you
- Before your contract ends: a standalone notification between 10 and 40 days before the end date (Ofcom).
- What it must say: the end date, your current price and the price after the end date, how to leave, and its best deals. Early termination charges no longer apply after the end date.
- Notice period: for mobile, it must say that a notice period may apply.
- If you pay for a phone with your airtime: the options must include a SIM-only deal.
- Every year after: if you stay out of contract, it must give you best-tariff information at least once a year (Ofcom).
If you had a phone on your contract
Check whether your bill still includes a charge for the phone. Once it is paid off, you should not keep paying for it. If you are, ask your provider why. Then ask it to move you to a SIM-only plan, or switch. If you leave early, you might have to pay the rest of the phone cost (Ofcom).
What to do next
Ofcom warns that if you are out of contract, you might be paying more than you need to. So it is worth a few minutes.
- Check your usage: minutes, texts and especially data. Your provider's app should show it.
- Compare SIM-only deals for that usage. Ofcom says SIM-only is usually best value if you already have a phone you are happy with.
- Ask your provider if it will match the best deal you found. Ofcom says it might match or even beat it.
- If it will not, switch. You can keep your number.
If your price goes up
Price rises have rules too. If your provider raises your price by more than your contract allows, it must tell you at least 30 days before. You then have 30 days to leave without paying exit fees (Ofcom).
Frequently asked questions
Will I get a message before my contract ends?
Yes. Ofcom's rules say residential customers get a standalone notification between 10 and 40 days before the end of the contract. It must include your new price and your provider's best deals.
Does my price change when my contract ends?
It can. The end-of-contract message must tell you your current price and the price after the end date. Check it before the date arrives.
Can I be charged to leave once I am out of contract?
Early termination charges stop applying after the end date. For mobile, a notice period may still apply, but you cannot be charged for any notice that runs past your switch date if you switch using a PAC or STAC.
What if I am still paying for my phone?
Handset payments are separate from the airtime. If you leave early, you might have to pay the rest of the phone cost. Check the remaining balance with your provider first.
How often should I hear from my provider after that?
At least once a year. If you stay out of contract, your provider must send best-tariff information at least annually.