Deciding to switch up TV and internet providers can be a big decision. Some of the reasons that people do this are to save some money, get better service, or take advantage of some sort of deal or promotion. It’s not all positives and some issues can come up when deciding to switch providers. Some of these can be expensive installation costs and other fees. Below are some of the pros and cons:

1. Who has the deals?
Brands like Comcast Xfinity offer some pretty good deals on TV and internet packages. Some of these deals from other brands are AT&T DIRECTV SELECT + Internet Double Play, Cox Starter TV and Internet Starter 10, and the Spectrum Double Play Select. These deals are all designed to entice people to sign up for their service. The services are good and you do get what you pay for. This doesn’t mean that switching providers is always a good idea. At least not for just getting a deal. Let’s look at one of the big negatives.

2. Initial fees, cost and cancellation
Canceling the middle of a contract with a provider isn’t always a good idea. The contract for service is most likely a line stating some sort of fee has to be paid depending on when you cancel. This can be enough to keep most people with their provider, at least until the commitment is up. When going to a new provider it’s like starting all over again. You’ll have to pay installation and other fees all over again. This also means having someone come into your house and set up things if that’s necessary. This means taking time off work or having someone come to let the cable guy in. All this can make a lot of people think twice. Now in most cases, a lot of this won’t happen. The most that will happen is paying the cancellation fee and any initial fees. If you can get past that, then the package deal from the new provider may be worth it.

3. Better, faster service?
A big benefit to switching providers is taking advantage of faster internet speeds. A lot of people depend on high internet speed for an at-home business or doing certain freelancing work. A lot of providers offer speeds at either a capped rate or even have a limited amount of data usage for that speed. Switching providers also might give access to better streaming options. Not a lot of people watch content through cable anymore. Streaming is becoming more popular and varied. A lot of providers will offer some sweet deals like a free month of a streaming service just for signing up. It’s best to shop around and see who has what to offer in this case.

4. Weighing the pros and cons before switching
Switching providers isn’t all positive. There are a few negatives that have to be considered before taking that big leap. Your current provider will most likely have cancellation fees and other things. Don’t just look at the deal from other providers but look at the internet speeds offered and if there are any streaming deals. Don’t be afraid to make that big jump to another provider. With these considerations in mind a switch can be made very easy.