Switching providers – Ofcom General Condition C7

Ofcom is the UK regulator for communications services. Its rules, known as the General Conditions of Entitlement, set out the standards communications providers must meet.
General Condition C7 protects customers when switching landline, broadband or mobile providers, including when keeping an existing telephone number. It covers clear information, customer consent and steps to minimise disruption during a switch.

Switching and number portability

Click here to read more about switching and number portability in Ofcom’s General Conditions.

Product Jargon Buster

Services for businesses range from standard services to specialist and bespoke products.

Ofcom have put together an easy to use ‘Jargon buster’ to assist – please see the Ofcom webpage here: jargon buster for more details on these.

Terms for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations

Additional Ofcom protections apply to eligible small businesses and not-for-profit organisations specific to Voice and Network Services, such as phone lines and broadband services. For these purposes, a small business means one with no more than 10 people working for it, including employees, volunteers and others.

Our special terms for eligible customers include a 12-month minimum contract term for Voice and Network Services. At the end of this minimum term:

  • Your services will continue unless you or we cancel them.
  • We will not commit you to a new minimum term without your express consent.
  • If your contract continues without a new minimum term, you can end it by giving one month’s notice.
  • Your contract documents explain the terms that apply to your services, including any charges for leaving during the minimum term.

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