Post Office to transfer 450,000 broadband and home phone customers to Shell Energy - what it means for you

The sale itself has been agreed and initial contracts signed, with completion expected to take place in six weeks. Affected customers will be contacted over the coming weeks by both Post Office and Shell, with Post Office customers expected to become Shell Energy customers on 15 March. 

Use our Broadband Comparison Tool to check if you can save by switching. 

You don't need to do anything - and there will be no disruption to service

Shell Energy says it'll be in touch with affected customers with more information once the deal has officially completed, but it adds that you don't need to do anything and the switch will go through automatically. 

The firm adds that there won't be any disruption to your service at any point, and that you can continue to use the same broadband and home phone equipment, including your router. 

As customers are migrated onto the Shell Energy platform over the course of 2021, they will also gain access to some of the perks of being a Shell Energy customer, such as fuel discounts via the Shell GO+ scheme. 

Prices won't change and you can still pay bills the same way

Shell Energy adds that once you've moved across, there will be no increase or change to the price you currently pay - whether you're within your minimum contract or outside of it. That's because you'll remain on your existing terms and conditions - even once the deal goes through.  

You can also continue to pay your bill in the same way as now. If you pay by visiting Post Office branches you'll be able to continue to do this - though Shell Energy hasn't been able to tell us at this stage if you'll need to change the payment details. If you pay by Direct Debit, this will be transferred over automatically.

If you're unhappy about the move - check if you can switch and save

Of course, you don't need to wait until you've moved over to Shell to switch broadband provider so long as you're out of contract. Check out our round-up of Cheap Broadband Deals to see if you can switch and save.

If you're currently within your minimum contract, you won't, however, be allowed to leave penalty-free as a result of the transfer as your Ts&Cs won't change. So check if you'll be charged an early exit fee before switching.

If Shell Energy were to change Post Office's terms and conditions in future, it's said unhappy customers would be able to leave penalty-free, so long as the change resulted in 'material detriment'.