Caught in Eir early cease charge net

BobCobb · 11-06-2026 05:50PM #1

I just wanted to see if anyone else has been in a similar situation with Eir or any other provider and if they had been granted any leeway when it came to fees after breaking a broadband contract early?
I should have been more careful to read the terms of contract before I entrusted GoMo to end my Eir contract and move my service to them (I incorrectly assumed that since the companies were related, that there shouldn't be much of an issue switching from Eir to GoMo), and I am now facing a 1,300 euro bill from eir for what was an innocent mistake on my part.

I rang Eir support today, hoping that I might be able to resume the rest of my contract and that they could waive the cessation fee, but was told that this is not an option. I don't really understand why there is no flexibility on this. The details of my account are in the Eir system, I still have the fibre box (which they didn't ask for), so is it really that difficult to re-activate my account? I'd even be willing to pay a re-connection fee, but it seems unfair to treat it in such a cut and dried fashion.

From what I can see the 1,300 bill is also calculated based on the regular price of 76 p/m, rather than the deal I had which worked out as just over 49 p/m. Using my contract's rate, the fee would be 840.

If I have to pay the 840 and chalk it up as a lesson in reading the fine print I will, but I will push back against the higher amount, as essentially they are trying to charge me more than I was contracted for.

If anyone has any experience with this I'd be interested in hearing about it.

I don't even understand how charging 75+ p/m for internet is allowed!

NotShero · 11-06-2026 07:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058439656/caught-in-eir-early-cease-charge-net

Yeah eir's Early Cease Charges are the highest among all providers. Here's how the eir ECCs are calculated, it's the out of contract price multiplied by the amount of months of the contract divided by the amount of days of the contract. This gives you a daily rate that you multiply by the days that remained in your contract.

https://www.eir.ie/opencms/export/sites/default/.content/pdf/pricing/Pt4.3.3_ION_consumer_early_cease_charges.pdf

You should maybe raise a complaint, that team would probably be the best to help if they can. You can get in contact with ComReg 10 days after you've submitted a complaint, eir should issue a Complaint Reference Number -

https://eir.ie/helpandsupport/online-forms/online-complaint/

https://www.eir.ie/complaints/

https://www.comreg.ie/advice-information/consumer-care/

BobCobb · 11-06-2026 08:57PM

Hey, thanks for the information there.

I asked them on Twitter and they confirmed that that amount is based on the regular price so I'll definitely be making a complaint and will follow up with comreg if (when) eir don't budge.

My contract with them was for the reduced rate so I don't see how they can justify charging the regular rate.

I mean that amount is more than I paid for my car 😐

eeepaulo · 12-06-2026 01:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124543965#Comment_124543965

making you pay out the contract then penalising you by charging the out of contract amount sounds extremely harsh to me.

just in case you arent doing it, keep contemporaneous notes.

The time you made the call, tweet etc, the time it was answered, who you spoke to, what was said, keep notes if they say they will call back and do/dont.

Try to write them back from memory (you will have the call logs anyway) so far if you havent been doing it, but do it at the time going forward.

It will be worth a hell of a lot more if you go to comreg than 'i spoke to them a few times, they promised to call back'

Gooser14 · 12-06-2026 01:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124543965#Comment_124543965

What does the contact Terms & Conditions state about early exit. Does it state you will be liable to pay the full rate? If it does then you will be relying on the good will of eir to reduce the amount they are looking for.

NotShero · 12-06-2026 01:50PM

I found this mentioned in the Broadband T&Cs but I'm not sure why that's not mentioned on their ECC price list document and I've seen multiple posts of people being charged similar to you for cancelling early.

Unless it doesn't count if you have their VoIP service included, but afaik they don't sell standalone broadband to new customers without the VoIP also.

"(d) Where a Customer is availing of a consumer Standalone eir Fibre product and terminates the Agreement, the Customer will be liable and agrees to pay to eir a flat fee of €150 or charge of the sum amounting to the Rental due for the remaining Initial Period, whichever is the lesser charge."

https://www.eir.ie/.content/pdf/terms/general/eir_standard_broadband_terms_and_conditions.pdf

BobCobb · 12-06-2026 02:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124545722#Comment_124545722

Interesting, I had seen that page but missed that bit. 7.3a seems to imply the charge should only be based on the duration of the contract left in the Initial Period (the first 12 months), while 7.3b states that this will be overridden by the terms of the contract if the customer avails of an eir Broadband service as part of a bundle.

I was signed up with them for a couple of years before going on this contract, but not sure if it was a bundle or standalone product - perhaps the fact that there was a landline there makes it a bundle, as it was called 'eir 500mb with off peak calls'?

BobCobb · 12-06-2026 02:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124545618#Comment_124545618

Thanks for the advise, I'll do that now.

BobCobb · 12-06-2026 03:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124545660#Comment_124545660

It says that the 'early cease charge is calculated by multiplying the daily rate of
service by the number of days remaining in the minimum term'. I'm sure they'll argue that this 'daily rate' refers to the 'regular' price, however, I did not enter into a contract with them for the service at the regular price.

That is my position and I think it is a fair one.

Not being flexible in allowing me to re-enter the contract after an innocent mistake is bad enough, charging me the full whack for the remainder of my contract is punitive, but then trying to charge me a rate I hadn't even signed up for is a little bit embarrassing tbqh.

NotShero · 12-06-2026 03:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124545954#Comment_124545954

Yeah I'm assuming they are counting the VoIP along with broadand as a bundle but they don't offer standalone broadband afaik, it has to be with off peak calls included.

Which is not really fair at all, as if you had broadband only, you'd only have to pay €150.

BobCobb · 12-06-2026 03:57PM

I think it was a physical landline, even though I don't have a phone connected to it, so I guess it would count as a bundle.

Both 7.3a and 7.3d would be less punitive, but seemingly unavailable to customers. 🤷

I sent in a complaint form earlier on, so will see what they come back with but I think I'll get in contact with comreg as well, regardless of the outcome.

Flinty997 · 12-06-2026 04:06PM

In my opinion it's sharp practice. And consumers should be protected from it, and service providers punished for doing it.

"....take advantage of a clear oversight by the opposite party…."

They are claiming a for a loss they won't suffer. Also they should be made inform the consumer of the exact break fee before it's broken.

Caught in Eir early cease charge net

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