Cancel DSL contract: special right to cancel when moving house

When moving, you usually have to take your old DSL contract with you, but in some cases you can also cancel your contract. We will show you what you have to consider with special termination rights.

Special right of termination for DSL contract when moving house

• DSL contracts usually have a term of 24 months. If you do not cancel the contract in good time, the Internet connection will be extended by another 12 months, often at a higher price.
• Until 2012, customers had to continue paying for old DSL contracts even after moving, even if the provider could not provide a connection at the new location. With some providers, you could buy the contract term for a fee.
• However, there is now a special right of termination. This enables you to take your DSL contract with you when you move house or to terminate it prematurely if necessary.

DSL contract: All information about the special right of termination when moving

• If you move, you only have to inform your DSL provider about it and provide it with the new home address. The costs for the move are between 50 and 70 euros, depending on the provider. Register the move as early as possible - often a period of 4 to 6 weeks applies.
• You are entitled to the special termination right if the provider cannot deliver the same service at the new location. However, the speed losses must be considerable, for example by 50 percent. According to Section 46 (8) TKG, there is a three-month period to terminate the contract at the end of the month. Incidentally, the special right of termination cannot be excluded by a general terms and conditions.
• Tip: In order to later prove strong losses in speed, you should measure the Internet speed in both the old and the new apartment. To get a reliable measurement, connect your PC to the router using a LAN cable and carry out a speed test such as the CHIP speed test.

DSL contract: further reasons for the extraordinary termination

Unfortunately, in addition to the move, there are not too many reasons that justify extraordinary termination. If one of the following three cases applies to you, the right is on your side.

1. A price increase is always a reason for an extraordinary termination. Unfortunately, this is very rarely the case with DSL contracts.
2. The change in the terms and conditions is also a reason, but it almost never happens.
3. The most common reason is the failure to perform, which is contractually agreed. However, termination is only possible if the provider is still unable to deliver the expected service even after the rectification has been carried out.

No special termination possible: what to do?

If the above reasons do not apply to you, you do not necessarily have to stay seated at the cost of the expiring contract. There are a few more options.

• First, you should cancel the contract immediately. The notice period is usually 3 months.
• In many cases, you can also transfer the DSL contract to the subsequent tenant, if the tenant agrees. If you grant the next tenant a discount, this often agrees.
• Alternatively, you can let the contract continue to run in your name for the remaining term. For a reasonable discount, you then grant the subsequent tenant the use of the Internet until the end of the term.
• If all of this doesn't work, look for a new DSL tariff. Many providers pay for the current tariff for up to 12 months.

You can terminate your contract not only if you move, but also if you lose speed. In the next practical tip, we will tell you when exactly slow internet is a reason for termination.

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