Help - Convert Contract to PAYG

LizLeonard

Help Needed

I know nothing about mobiles apart from you dial in the number and speak to someone.

I have read through these threads and all this locking & unlocking goes right over my head.

My problem

I have two teenage sons with contract mobiles, one with 02 and the other Vodaphone. Both contracts are over 12 months old and therefore out of contract.

Fortunately they are both responsible and stick to their limit of free calls but I would like to convert the phones to PAYG, let them manage the cost and I will pay to them the amount I normally do on contract as pocket money. I suspect they will end up quids in and become very miserly about their phone use. Hopefully a good lesson for them.

So can someone please help a 'phone idiot' and explain how it can be done.

Thanks

Liz

barjam_2

LizLeonard wrote:

Help Needed

I know nothing about mobiles apart from you dial in the number and speak to someone.

I have read through these threads and all this locking & unlocking goes right over my head.

My problem

I have two teenage sons with contract mobiles, one with 02 and the other Vodaphone. Both contracts are over 12 months old and therefore out of contract.

Fortunately they are both responsible and stick to their limit of free calls but I would like to convert the phones to PAYG, let them manage the cost and I will pay to them the amount I normally do on contract as pocket money. I suspect they will end up quids in and become very miserly about their phone use. Hopefully a good lesson for them.

So can someone please help a 'phone idiot' and explain how it can be done.

Thanks

Liz

the first thing you would need to do is get your lads to in form their network they want to cancel their contract they might have to give 30 days notice and while cancelling ask their provider if they will send them a pay as you go sim card it should be as simple as that

hollie.weimeraner

I take it both your sons are under 18 years and as such the contracts are probably in your name? tel no for O2 disconnections is 0800 0288151 rather than the 0870 number which will cost you a fortuine. O2 require 1 months notice for disconnection. As far as PAYG goes O2 were doing some free SIMS with 300 free texts if you put £10 per month on the phone. The link is here http://www.o2promotions.com/fsdec2812/ but they can take a while to come through.


Can't find a free number for Vodaphone but I expect they also will require 1 months notice.

Virgin may be worth considering as PAYG option but if your kids are anything like mine the 300 free texts will clinch it with o2

LizLeonard

Thanks for the great tips, but what I do not understand is how you convert from contract to PAYG.

Is it as simple as cancelling the contracts and buying a PAYG sim? Presumably you have to buy a sim from the original contract provider.

It would be really helpful if someone could explain.

Thanks

Liz

PS Yes they are under 18 and the contracts in my name.

TREVORCOLMAN

I did this with Orange recently. I rang them and told them I wanted to cancel my contract at the 12 month point as I wanted to go onto PAYG. I gave exactly 30 days notice and they offered to send me a free SIM Card. At exactly the 12 month point I called them on the 0800 number given with new sim card. They then put me onto PAYG. The sim had £1 free. I put £10 credit on at the same time. I kept the same number so it was very easy. I imagine it would be the same for any mobile provider.

Good Luck

barjam_2

yes lizleonard its a simple as that just like what trevercolman says if they send you a payg simcard you just stick it in your phone and thats it and you can also tell them you would like to keep the telephone no.

LizLeonard

Let's hope its that simple!

Thanks to all for their advice

kparka

Hi

Dont know if it will help at all but generally when you phone up to cancel a contract (or rather when i have) the phone companies want to keep you as a customer so they offer to change your existing number to a pay as you go one. So no need to change the sim card & let everyone know of change of number etc. Thats what vodaphone did with me recently anyway.

Hope you managed to sort it out easily.

LizLeonard

kparka wrote:

Hi

Dont know if it will help at all but generally when you phone up to cancel a contract (or rather when i have) the phone companies want to keep you as a customer so they offer to change your existing number to a pay as you go one. So no need to change the sim card & let everyone know of change of number etc. Thats what vodaphone did with me recently anyway.

Hope you managed to sort it out easily.

Thanks for the tip. i have just received the following message from Carphone Warehouse - did you go through all that?

Thank you for your e-mail regarding disconnection of your account and transferring your number to Pay as you Go.

Please be advised, if you wish to transfer your number to pay as you go you will need to get a Port Authorisation Code (PAC). To get a PAC number you will need to contact our Loyalty team on 0208 896 5491. Once you have got your PAC number you will need to contact your pay as you go provider and inform them of the number. If you wish to stay with Vodafone, they can be contacted on 0800-068-6570. Once they have transferred your number they will then contact us to disconnect your account. This can take 7-10 working days for this process to be completed. Your account with us will need to be active for the transfer to be processed.

Please note, your PAC code will expire after 20 days. If you do not use your PAC code within this time your account with us will not be disconnected and you will be liable for any charges incurred. You will then need to request another PAC code or provide written confirmation of your request for disconnection. Please be advised the address to send your disconnection request is as follows;

Reference 1006
The Carphone Warehouse Support Centre
1 Portal Way
London
W3 6RS

Please include your mobile, account number, full address including postcode and the bank your direct debit is registered with. This is to comply with the Data Protection Act

We require customers to send this recorded delivery or get a certificate of postage (free from your post office) as we would require this information if your request is not received by us.

LizLeonard

hollie.weimeraner wrote:

I take it both your sons are under 18 years and as such the contracts are probably in your name? tel no for O2 disconnections is 0800 0288151 rather than the 0870 number which will cost you a fortuine. O2 require 1 months notice for disconnection. As far as PAYG goes O2 were doing some free SIMS with 300 free texts if you put £10 per month on the phone. The link is here http://www.o2promotions.com/fsdec2812/ but they can take a while to come through.


Can't find a free number for Vodaphone but I expect they also will require 1 months notice.

Virgin may be worth considering as PAYG option but if your kids are anything like mine the 300 free texts will clinch it with o2

A Vodaphone 0800 number for you courtesy of carphone wharehouse

Vodafone, they can be contacted on 0800-068-6570.