This topic

Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Abacab6611 — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 21:02:46 GMT

I have been on fibre 300 since December 2024. Last week, after receiving an offers email from BT,I decided to "upgrade" online to fibre 900. This looked attractive as it offered a large increase in speed for only an extra seven pounds per month. It has been a mistake. It went live on Wednesday and there has been absolutely no change in the wi-fi speed to my devices. An engineer came to the house today and found that the hub was receiving 900 mbs(and when my laptop was attached by ethernet cable it got near this figure). However all other devices are getting the same speed when I had fibre 300. I am still in the "cooling off"period. Can I cancel the fibre 900 contract and will I automatically go back to my fibre 300 contract.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

WSH — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 21:29:36 GMT

I would think so.

I doubt very much if you would see an improvement in operational performance going from 300 to 900 Mb/s, unless you have umpteen devices connected to the internet, 3 kids who are avid gamers and you also want to steam 4k TV all at the same time.

And as far as the Wi-Fi speed goes, while there is a relationship between the two, it is a bit like the relationship between the tyres on a car and the engine. While both can affect performance, they are completely separate entities and the one has no direct effect on the other.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Abacab6611 — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 21:35:09 GMT

Thank you for your reply. It has been a steep learning curve in the last few days and I now understand what you are saying. Just don't see any point in paying an extra £7.00 per month for what will be(in terms of end results) the same service.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Kodikid — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:19:39 GMT

I was just like you, had 150mbps and halfway through my contract was offered 500mbps for £1 extra.

Contrary to belief I'm not stupid and knew it was BT'S rouse to restart my two year contract ( make sure yours hasn't been extended).

As pointed out several times no one in the real day to day world needs anything above 100mpbs but for an extra quid I couldn’t resist.

Come connection day broke out by trusty wifi speed checkers and literally no difference.

Again the usual isp response that it's to the hub as so many things effect wifi that no one can guarantee it.

Was still going to keep it for the bandwidth when I discovered not all router's are equal and that a wifi 6 router will vastly improve the speed.

Most third party wifi 6 router's available on the high street looked like upside down spiders and she who must be obeyed would go ballistic if I had one in the living room.

So bought a EE router from Ebay which was literally plug and play and as soon as it was live my wifi speed literally exceeded the 500mbps.

Obviously don't need 500mbps but as it was basically the same price I was paying for 150mbps I now bask in the warm glow of smugness everytime I do a wifi speed test.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Abacab6611 — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 06:14:31 GMT

You are probably correct in saying it is a ploy to extend the contract. You mentioned getting an EE router. I have no experience in these matters. Is it a simple plug and play as you suggest or do you still have to keep the BT hub and do a variety of complex changes which might be beyond this old timer.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Kimberlin — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:02:51 GMT

@Abacab6611 I cant vouch for EE routers but any decent 3rd party WiFi6 router should work just fine with your BT username and password.

It all very much depends on your home setup as to whether or not it is worth your while purchasing your own router. For my situation, my Wife working from home, the 30 plus WiFi devices continually connected to my TP-Link router, then even on the 500mbps package we’re on, it seems worth it. Probably still overkill, but we just don’t get any connection issues whatsoever but that will also be the perk of living in a recent new build with FTTP installed at point of build.

@Kodikid My router looks like a tarantula on steroids! but blinking ‘eck! it’s good! It’s ‘hidden’ behind the TV though so it can’t be seen.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Kodikid — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:06:11 GMT

Re EE router

It's simplicity itself..literally plug and play as BT/EE are one and the same.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

WSH — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 10:15:34 GMT

@Kimberlin Mine was retro-fitted and also doesn't cause any problems, so the idea it has to be a new build is not the case.

Behind the tele, hey? You know that is a notoriously bad place to put a WAP, as all that electronics is not going to be radio transparent. Probably work even better if you take it out from behind there.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

gg30340 — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 10:18:08 GMT

BT can't seem to win can they.

Users are always complaining about contract renewal prices being so high for the same contract and speeds when they come to the end of their contract and now some are complaing of a few £ increase in renewing their contract for a big increase in speed.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Kodikid — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 10:33:25 GMT

Pretty sure the op wasn't complaining about the cost...more about the expectation v reality

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Kimberlin — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 10:35:13 GMT

@WSH To be fair, the router works just fine behind the TV, there’s a half metre space between it and the recent new TV which undoubtedly has some form of appropriate shielding built within, speeds are just fine. Plus, I can’t actually put the router anywhere else anyway.

I’ve just done a router speed check on my iPhone in bed 15 metres away on the 2nd 5ghz band and it’s running at 510mbps and 71mbps respectively and that is with all the other stuff connected on WiFi too including all my IP external cameras.

I did recently enquire about a speed upgrade with PN to 900mbps for an extra couple of quid a month, but I deemed it pointless as it is highly likely it would have made no difference in overall everyday speed in relation to my present setup on the 500mbps package.

And that’s part of the point of some of this thread, some customers allow themselves to be lured into ‘blistering’ speeds of 900mbps only to find that it’s completely pointless in relation to their actual setup irrespective of whether or not it costs only a little extra per month. I know my Wife and I can easily get by on 300mbps, we’ve been on that before, but we got a better deal with 500mbps because of the reward card offering.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

WSH — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 11:03:30 GMT

“…some customers allow themselves to be lured into ‘blistering’ speeds of 900mbps only to find that it’s completely pointless…” as I indicated in my original reply.

As for the tele, just thought I’d mention it. At the end of the day, if it works for you, it works. Years ago, I placed an HH5 behind my mum’s TV, as she wouldn't have it on the top of the cabinet it was in. Seemed to work fine but there was a big stand on the TV and a large gap beneath it.

For the benefit of other readers, back of the TV is known to be a notoriously bad position though.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

gg30340 — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 13:49:36 GMT

@Kodikidwrote:
Pretty sure the op wasn't complaining about the cost...more about the expectation v reality

You and the OP remarked that BT were only doing that to extend your contract. Sounds like a moan to me but hey ho each to their own.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Kodikid — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:00:10 GMT

Hmm when does an observation become a moan?

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Kimberlin — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:02:07 GMT

I cant wait to see where this heading….

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

gg30340 — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:33:37 GMT

My mistake, when you said " rouse" I presumed you meant "ruse" which the Collins Dictionery states "Ruse (pronounced “rooz”; rhymes with ooze, snooze) is a noun. It means a false front, or a cover story used to disguise illicit or forbidden activities" hence why I thought it was a moan.

The dictionery states "rouse" means "Rouse (pronounced “r-OWzz”; rhymes with cows, allows) is a verb. It can mean to awaken or disturb someone's sleep" so as I said I must have have been mistaken I just didn't under stand that BT woke you up!

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Kodikid — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:36:35 GMT

Well these are woke times.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

gg30340 — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:39:49 GMT

@Kodikidwrote:
Well these are woke times.

Ok I'll give you that one but it was a moan!

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Abacab6611 — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:53:06 GMT

Thank you for your support. I was only too happy to pay the small price increase. You are correct to say it is about expectations. I thought the more expensive package would provide a better WiFi signal and speed for my devices. However the more expensive package has made absolutely no difference to how my devices work. I am a relative beginner in this field and perhaps a little bit of guidance from BT and other providers about broadband could be helpful. But I sought out the forum for advice and not to complain.

Re: Return to previous contract in "cooling off period"

Crimliar — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 15:17:13 GMT

The problem with cooling off periods is that they can leave you with no contract and no service, if you've not managed to agree something in advance.

It's not helped that probably the majority of the general public just thinks of all this as their internet, and faster must be better right. The sales peeps aren't going to put them right on this are they - it works to their advantage. So its often till people stumble on to support forums that anyone gets to explain the vagarities of connection speeds, ethernet connections, and Wi-Fi, that people get a better picture of what's being offered!