Telephone and internet

The rights and obligations of the subscriber to a telephone and broadband connection upon termination depend on the contract type.

Fixed-term contract

Terminating a fixed-term contract and transferring the number to a new subscription is possible during the contract period. In this case you will usually have to pay the remaining monthly fees for the contract and possibly an early termination fee.

When changing a fixed term subscription it is worth checking how much of the fixed term is left to run and what kinds of payments are involved so that the extra charges incurred in changing the subscription are as low as possible.

You can terminate a fixed-term subscription while the contract is still running by giving 2 weeks' notice of termination:

• If you have problems making payments because of illness, unemployment of other reason beyond your control. If you terminate a contract by appealing to what is called a social obstacle to its performance, the operator may only collect the charges accumulated up to the termination of the contract.
• if keeping the contract in force is unreasonable for some particular reason. For example a move abroad or to a new place where it is not possible to use the operator’s services. In this case you will have to pay the charges that have accumulated up to the termination of the contract.
• if you have a tied contract, you can terminate a contract also without special cause, in which case you have to pay in one payment all the charges relating to the tied contract and compensation incurred for cancellation. For example, if you are dissatisfied with poor service, you can vote with your feet and change the operator during the contract period, but this may turn out to be expensive. Terminating a tied contract

A fixed-term contract automatically continues as an indefinite contract after the contractual period unless otherwise agreed.

The operator cannot change the contractual conditions of a fixed-term contract during the contractual period unless the change is the result of a change in legislation or a decision by the authorities.

Contract of indefinite duration

You can terminate an indefinite contract, and the contract will then be terminated at the end of the notice period. You can terminate the contract orally or in writing. The notice period for the subscription is 2 weeks and the charges relating to the old contract are payable during this time. You can usually agree the termination time of the contract and the timetable for transferring the number with the operator.

The operator has the right to change the contractual conditions of an indefinite contract on the grounds specified in the contractual conditions as well as because of a change in legislation or a decision by the authorities. In such a case the contents of the contract, as it affects the consumer, must not change substantially. If the operator changes the contractual conditions, the consumer must be told at least a month before the change takes effect. The following issues, for example, must be communicated:

• The basis for the change, its content and effect
• The date the change will take effect
• The customer’s right to terminate the contract if the change is detrimental to the consumer

The operator cannot make significant changes to contracts by simply announcing them. If the operator makes significant changes to a contract, it must terminate the old contract and offer a new contract on the new, changed conditions. The Finnish Consumer Agency has taken the view that such things as major price increases and the removal of significant additional services from the subscription constitute significant changes to contractual conditions.