Most internet service providers prefer to lock their subscribers into multi-annual contracts with early termination fees if you exit early. The termination fees usually depend on the internet provider but generally decrease with each month paid towards completing the contract.
So what happens if a situation forces you to cancel your internet plan? Can you transfer your internet to another person?
Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
- Why Transfer Internet Contracts?
- Can You Transfer Internet To Another Person?
- A Way Around Transfer Restrictions
- Can You Move Your Account to a New Address?
- Wrap Up
Why Transfer Internet Contracts?
Several reasons might require you to transfer internet contracts. The typical ones include the following.
Moving to a New Home
It is typical for people to move if they live in a rented property. The incoming person might be ready and willing to take over your internet contract, so it will require you to change the account name, address, and payment plan to transfer ownership.
Health or Death
Although some internet service providers have strict contract transfer policies, health or death cases generally allow account switching. For instance, if the account holder gets ill or passes away, you can apply for a transfer of ownership to take over the account.
A modem router with all ethernet ports connected
In some cases, internet providers also allow transfers due to incarceration or military deployment, but with some fees and paperwork.
Can You Transfer Internet To Another Person?
Yes. But each internet provider has different requirements and restrictions as stipulated in their transfer policies.
Transfer Policies for the Three Largest American ISPs
Verizon
Verizon allows internet account transfers and simplifies the process using the transfer service feature in their mobile app. For those who prefer a one-on-one chat with a customer service agent, contact 1.800.837.4966 and provide your billing number.
A modem-router combo provided by an ISP
But to transfer your Fios account to another person, you (the current account owner) and the incoming customer must contact the number together. You two must remain in the conversation during the entire account ownership changing process.
Verizon will bill all charges up to the effective transfer date to the outgoing customer, while the incoming customer will handle all the account charges after the transfer date. Both parties must agree to these terms for a successful transfer of ownership.
After transferring the account to a new holder, you can continue or cancel your subscription to the Broadband Essentials and Extras services. And you will lose all content if you use the free 5GB cloud storage after the transfer. So either upgrade to the paid cloud service or save your content before transferring the account.
Cloud storage concept
Xfinity (Comcast)
Xfinity allows account holder transfers but with stricter conditions. Only life-changing events, such as military deployment or death, can warrant these transfers.
Although unclear, the company might not allow account transfers due to tenancy changes when you move to a new house. So Comcast can disconnect the current account holder and create a new account, requiring you to pay termination, admin, and activation fees.
A technician checking fiber optic cables in an internet splitter box for FTTH connections
But you can only know your situation by contacting the customer service agent to initiate the account change request. Provide the required information (including your email address), and you’ll receive an email with a link to upload your form and supporting documents.
The transfer is not instant. You will have to wait up to three business days after submitting the documents for the agent to contact you to complete the transfer request.
AT&T
AT&T isn’t as strict as Xfinity because the company allows hassle-free transfers of billing responsibilities to others. The process requires you to go to this link, then click “start transfer.” After that, read the terms of transfer, click “continue,” enter your ID & password, then follow the prompts to complete the process.
A router connected to cable internet
The exact policy terms stipulate that you might lose some discounts or offers if and when the transfer request is complete. However, these discounts and offers might apply to the new account owner if eligible. And you might notice partial charges and credits to your next bill after completing the transfer request.
However, if your billing includes a home phone service, TV, and wireless & internet, you must contact customer service to initiate the transfer process, not do it online.
A Way Around Transfer Restrictions
With stricter ISPs like Comcast, you can bypass the restrictions by changing the payment details. Technically, this process does not change the account ownership because the contract remains in the name of the current account holder.
A router connected to fast fiber-optic internet
For instance, if the person wanting to take over your account by renting the property you want to move out of is a close friend or family member, you can change the payment information in the contract. Once it expires, the tenant can create a new account with the preferred ISP.
However, some ISPs don’t allow such arrangements because they require the account holder’s name and payment details to match. So if you know and trust the other person, you can continue making the payments and get a refund from that person.
Can You Move Your Account to a New Address?
If the situation requiring the internet account transfer is moving to a new address, it is possible to move your account to the new address. But you’ll have to complete some paperwork, then pay admin and activation fees.
A technician checking fiber optic cables on an electric pole
The payments will be cheaper than the termination fee if the contract’s minimum term is not up. However, if your ISP is unavailable at your new address, you’ll have to pay the exit fee and apply to one of the available ones.
Wrap Up
As you can see, it is possible to transfer your internet to another person, but the terms differ depending on the ISP. So ensure you go through these terms before signing up, especially if you live in a rented property with non-shared internet. That’s it for today. Drop a comment below if you have any questions.
