Ask Juandice Internet Service Deals Expert Advice
"Why do some ISPs want a contract while others don’t?"
Date: 05/30/2006
Subject: Contracts with ISPs
Q: Hello, I’m kind of new to the internet and I’ve seen some internet service
deals that want me to sign a contract but some others don’t. Why? Do I
get something more if I have a contract or will I pay more if don’t have one?
Singed; Jim, California
A:Hi Jim, welcome to the internet! I’ll do my best to try and answer this question – it gets a little complicated, but here goes.
Some internet service providers want you to sign a contract simply because of the expense associated with starting a new user in their system. Others want you to have a contract so you don’t leave their service if a more inexpensive, faster high speed internet service deal comes along. And, still others need to record and put a value on their business by showing the number of "contracted" customers they have. This gets into what the ISP is worth on the open market in the event of a sale or merger.
Some ISPs do offer incentives for a one year contract such as discounts for the first 3 months or they’ll include some software. To answer your question more directly though, if you’re not comfortable making a one year commitment, then don’t. Many of the high speed internet service deals we offer don’t require a contract. If you want dial-up internet access or high speed, just click on the links to the left of this page. Best of luck Jim.
— Juandice