Fibre is genuinely good value — but a few billing quirks can make your first month or two look alarming. None of them are scams; they’re just rarely explained up front.
Pro-rata charges
If your line goes live mid-month, your first invoice often bills two periods at once: the pro-rata days for the current month plus the full upcoming month, billed in advance. It evens out — but budget for a heavier first debit order.
Promo cliffs
“2 months half price” and “R200 off for 3 months” are great — until they end. Set a reminder for when the promo lapses so the full price doesn’t surprise you. If the standard price no longer suits, that’s the moment to re-compare and switch.
Tip: note the promo end date the day you sign up. On FibreScout you can re-run your address any time to check whether a better standard price has appeared.
Setup & router fees
Installation is usually free on a 12-month contract. Choose month-to-month for flexibility and you’ll often pay a once-off setup fee (around R599) and sometimes a router deposit. Decide which matters more: no lock-in, or no upfront cost.
Cancellation & migration
Leaving inside a contract can trigger an early-termination fee. When switching ISP on the same line, time it so your new service activates before the old one bills again — our switching guide covers the overlap trick.
The 30-second checklist
- Is the price promotional or standard? When does the promo end?
- Is there a setup fee or router deposit?
- Is it month-to-month or a fixed term?
- What’s the early-cancellation policy?
Answer those four before you sign and bill shock basically disappears.