- If a new service does not start on the committed activation date, a set daily payment accrues under the scheme.
- The daily amount is set by Ofcom and periodically uprated, so confirm the current rate.
- The payment runs for each day of delay until the service is activated.
- Participating providers should pay automatically; keep a record of the promised and actual dates.
Few things are more frustrating than ordering broadband, arranging your life around the activation date, and then finding the service does not go live. The automatic compensation scheme treats delayed activation as a specific failure, with a set daily payment from participating providers. Knowing your entitlement turns a frustrating wait into at least a compensated one.
What triggers delayed-activation compensation
When you order a new service, the provider commits to an activation date. If the service is not working on that date, delayed-activation compensation begins to accrue under the scheme. The trigger is the provider's failure to deliver the service it promised by the date it promised, which is why the committed date in your order is the reference point to record.
The daily amount
The per-day figure is set by Ofcom under the scheme and has been uprated over time. Confirm the current rate from the official scheme information rather than relying on an old figure. As an indication, recent daily figures for delayed activation have been £6.46 per day (the rate in force from 1 April 2026), counted from and including the missed start date, but treat that as indicative and verify the live rate.
How long it runs
The payment applies for each day the activation is delayed beyond the committed date, until the service actually goes live. A longer delay therefore accrues a larger total. As with the other automatic payments, it is meant to reflect the ongoing inconvenience of not having the service you were promised on time.
Trigger and rates
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Covered event | New service not active on the committed date |
| Rate | Set daily amount (verify current rate) |
| Duration | Each day until activation |
| How paid | Automatically by participating providers |
How to claim
For participating providers the payment should be applied automatically once the service is activated, usually as a bill credit. Keep a record of the committed activation date from your order and the date the service actually went live, so you can check the amount. If the credit is missing or wrong, raise a complaint with your evidence, and escalate to ADR after six weeks or at deadlock.
Frequently asked questions
What is delayed activation compensation for broadband?
It is a set daily payment under the automatic compensation scheme that accrues when a new broadband service is not activated on the date the provider committed to. Participating providers should pay it automatically for each day of delay until the service goes live.
How much compensation do I get for delayed broadband activation?
It is a set daily amount under the scheme, which Ofcom periodically uprates. Recent daily figures for delayed activation have been £6.46 per day (the rate in force from 1 April 2026), counted from and including the missed start date, but treat that as indicative and confirm the current rate from the official source.
How long can activation be delayed before compensation triggers?
Compensation accrues from the committed activation date the provider gave you. If the service is not working on that date, the daily payment begins and continues for each day of delay until activation. The committed date in your order is the reference point.
How do I claim delayed activation compensation?
For participating providers it should be paid automatically once the service is activated, usually as a bill credit. Keep a record of the committed and actual activation dates, and if the credit is missing or wrong, raise a complaint and escalate to ADR if needed.
Do all ISPs pay delayed activation compensation?
Only those that participate in Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme. Participation is not universal, so check whether your provider is a member. If it is not, you would need to pursue compensation manually through the provider's complaints process.
