5 min read
Understand what you signed
- The minimum term and the exact end date
- The notice period and how notice must be served (often in writing)
- Whether the contract auto-renews, and for how long
- Any annual price increase clause linked to CPI or RPI
- Early termination charges if you need to exit sooner
The 90-day renewal timeline
- Day 90: pull twelve months of bills and confirm current usage and pain points
- Day 75: define requirements — users, sites, speeds, features, growth plans
- Day 60: go to market and gather comparable quotes on a like-for-like basis
- Day 45: shortlist, run demos, check references and SLAs
- Day 30: serve notice if switching, or sign the renegotiated renewal
- Day 0–30: migration and training window
Negotiating a renewal you're happy with
Providers price renewals against the risk of losing you. Arriving with current usage data, a clear requirement and a credible alternative quote changes the conversation entirely.
Also negotiate the terms, not just the price: shorter term, capped annual increases, break clauses if you move premises, and included support hours are often easier to win than a headline discount.
Keep it from happening again
Maintain a single contract register with end dates, notice periods and owners, and set calendar reminders at 120 and 90 days. If you'd rather not track it yourself, ask us to set a renewal reminder and we'll flag it for you ahead of time.
Key takeaways
- Auto-renewal is the most expensive clause in most telecoms contracts
- Start the review 90 days before the end date, not at the deadline
- Negotiate term length and price-rise caps as well as the monthly cost