Broadband users keen to get the best deal from their internet service provider (ISP) should be aware of the threat of rolling contracts, it has been claimed.

According to the Daily Mirror, they are "a relatively new idea" but some of the larger broadband providers including BT have adopted the contracts as standard.

The news provider explains that under the system, users are not required to manually re-register when their current deal expires - but many people fail to realise this as they have not read the small print.

It states: "If you stay with a provider after the end of your initial 18-month contract, they will automatically sign you up for another 18 months unless you tell them within 30 days that you don't want to re-sign."

With consumers charged up to £200 to cancel a rolling contract, the Mirror suggests that ISPs may be using them to prevent users switching to a rival firm.

Last month, Griffin Internet was named service provider of the year at the Comms National Awards, beating off competition from four other firms.