BT Reintroduces £30 Broadband Setup Fee, Sparks Customer Backlash

British telecom provider BT announced that, from 31 July, new BT and EE customers will be charged a £30 setup fee for broadband, while Plusnet customers will face a £20 fee. The move has drawn criticism, with Uswitch broadband expert Ernest Doku calling it a “badly misjudged” return of a charge that had largely disappeared over the past decade, especially amid cost‑of‑living concerns.

BT says the fee reflects higher global demand and costs for the electrical components used in its broadband hubs, which the company has absorbed for years. It added that existing customers are unaffected and that competitive deals remain available. Other providers such as Community Fibre, Sky and Vodafone continue to offer contracts without upfront fees, prompting consumers to compare options.

The backlash highlights ongoing sensitivity to price increases in the UK broadband market and may influence customers to seek alternatives that waive setup charges.