Terminating Internet Service Could Cost You

This is something you may not think about if you're considering switching to a new Internet service provider: Your current provider may want you to pay to leave them.

A survey of major broadband providers found that some charge between $70 and about $200 if you end a contract to move to a competitor. The survey was conducted by Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine.

Click here to see if your ISP charges a termination fee. Consumers Union reports that three biggies, Comcast, Time Warner, and Cablevision, do not charge fees to end contracts. But Qwest charges $200, Earthlink, $149, and Verizon charges a $69 termination fee for its FiOS fiber optic broadband services and $79 for its DSL high-speed Internet service. The fee is waived, however, if you cancel service within the first month.

It's the same approach cell phone service providers have taken, but consumers have gotten wise to their ways and some providers are removing the sting of termination fees.  

You can tell the Federal Communications Commission what you think about this practice by filling out this form on the hearusnow.org web site, which implores: "The Federal Communications Commission should stop broadband companies from locking consumers into long-term contracts with high termination fees." The letter goes on, but there's a nice feature allowing you to personalize the message to your representative.

Has anyone run across a sizable fee when switching broadband services?

Related:

How to Get Out of Your Current Cell Phone Plan
Verizon Wireless Easing Termination Fees