Cancelling 3 Contract - Questions

ledgeman

Hello all,

Long time reader of forums, but this is my first post!

I've currently got a contract with 3 that's approaching the end in a few months but I'm getting pretty fed up with their network coverage in my area and was planning on moving to another network in the near future, but I was hoping to get some feedback from other people who have been in the situation.

I'm in the third last month of my contract (2 full months to go after this) and am wanting to cancel early. I don't mind paying the remainder of my contract, but I would also like to move my number over to the a new provider.

How difficult is it to move your mobile number to a new provider when cancelling a contract early? Do I request the PAC and move to a new provider before or after cancelling my 3 contract?

How do I pay the remaining months when I cancel, do they want a credit card off my over the phone (which I'm not keen on) or will they just add it to my bill for my next Direct Debit? If I choose not to move my mobile number across to a new network, what happens to the old number? Does it automatically convert to PAYG or does it just delete/expire?

Many thanks!

ledgeman

Has anyone had any experience with the above?

purple12

I've not got personal experience of all these matters but of some of them! As for moving from Three, you can request your PAC before the contract is up and just pay off the rest of the contract. They make it hard work but it is possible. Request the PAC before you move so that you can give the PAC to the new network and so the number moves (there may be a day or two of lapse). When you request the PAC make sure you say you want to cancel the contract (it should be obvious but it always helps to make things clear).
If you want the number to go to PAYG, you should explicitly state this. Don't take anything for granted! I'm not sure about the number expiring if you don't do this though as I used the PAYG option.
When I paid the contract off, they added it to the next direct debit - I didn't give any credit card numbers over the phone. It has been a few years since I did it though.

ledgeman

purple12 wrote: »

I've not got personal experience of all these matters but of some of them! As for moving from Three, you can request your PAC before the contract is up and just pay off the rest of the contract. They make it hard work but it is possible. Request the PAC before you move so that you can give the PAC to the new network and so the number moves (there may be a day or two of lapse). When you request the PAC make sure you say you want to cancel the contract (it should be obvious but it always helps to make things clear).

So if I am in the third last month of my contract now, does this mean that when I phone and ask for the PAC and ask to cancel my contract, this is me giving them 30 days notice? I'll be issued with the PAC, and at the end of the 30 days my contract will expire (whether I've used the PAC or not, and if I haven't the PAC will just expire and I'll lose my number), and I'll receive the bill for the remaining 2 months in my contract (I pay in advance for my contract, so I've already paid for the current, third last, month)?

purple12 wrote: »

If you want the number to go to PAYG, you should explicitly state this. Don't take anything for granted! I'm not sure about the number expiring if you don't do this though as I used the PAYG option.
When I paid the contract off, they added it to the next direct debit - I didn't give any credit card numbers over the phone. It has been a few years since I did it though.

I basically just want to move from 3 to a new provider, but I can't afford to be without my current 3 number for a long period of time (few hours max I should think). When porting a number, I know it takes a few days for the number to port, that's fine, but how long is that number non-working for (i.e. when it is actually switching SIM's)?

Cheers!

Guys_Dad

I would advise against going to Vodafone for one reason. They are the only network that demands that you have a PAC code in place before you transfer. Others allow you to transfer afterwards, so if your retention of your old number and ongoing service is paramount, then bear this in mind.

In addition, don't cancel your DD to 3 as there will be some residual calls etc that come through - see other threads about MSE members being chased by debt collectors as they had cancelled and 3 could not collect their last settlement payment. It's much easier not to get any black marks on your credit rating caused by 3's billing system!

Also be prepared for a long talk to their retentions department who seem, from this forum, to be most relauctant to let you say good bye!

ledgeman

Guys_Dad wrote: »

I would advise against going to Vodafone for one reason. They are the only network that demands that you have a PAC code in place before you transfer. Others allow you to transfer afterwards, so if your retention of your old number and ongoing service is paramount, then bear this in mind.

But if I call 3 and get the PAC number before signing up with Vodafone, then this isn't a problem, right? Because I'll have the PAC code when ordering...

Guys_Dad wrote: »

In addition, don't cancel your DD to 3 as there will be some residual calls etc that come through - see other threads about MSE members being chased by debt collectors as they had cancelled and 3 could not collect their last settlement payment. It's much easier not to get any black marks on your credit rating caused by 3's billing system!

By this, I take it you mean there will be some charges sitting on bills for months to come, things like out of allowance phone calls and text messages, and of course the cost of clearing off the remaining months in the contract?

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Also be prepared for a long talk to their retentions department who seem, from this forum, to be most relauctant to let you say good bye!

Don't worry, I am prepared for that

Guys_Dad

(a) Yes you will have the PAC code. But if 3 then also cancel the contract when they issue you the PAC code - I know they shouldn't but you are cancelling early and it could be a trainee on the day you contact them!!!

So, being cautious, I would open a new contract first - sim-only 30 day to minimise the risk and then request the PAC code.

In any event, I would always go sim-only - check out the deals and do an 18-month cash projection vis-a-vis a contract.

(b) Yes, 3 seem to have a track record of late miscellaneous small charges.

ledgeman

I have one final question:

If I choose to stay with 3 but decide to upgrade my contract now (their site states you can upgrade within the last 3 months of an 18 month contract), what happens to the remaining 2.5 months of my current contract?

Do they just disappear and are replaced by the new, upgraded contract? When does the upgraded contract kick in, is it as soon as I choose to upgrade or do I have to wait until my next bill date (in my case, the 16th of the month)?

I'm sure I've read somewhere that you just get the new phone, but the new upgraded contract still doesn't kick in until the end of the your current contract, meaning that if I were to upgrade now I would just get the new phone but I wouldn't get the new tariff for another 2.5 months... Is this right?

Thanks.

BLT_2

ledgeman wrote: »

Has anyone had any experience with the above?

I cancelled my contract with Vodafone and went on to PAYG, with O2 these days you can get 100 minutes and unlimited texts for ten pounds and not be locked into an endless contract.

The customer service from Vodafone while I was with them was excellent, try and get your PAC code once you are leaving and you may as well bang your head on a brick wall. Based on their previous service I may have gone back to them in time, given the appalling service when attempting to get a PAC code I would rather revert to 2 tins and a long piece of cord than sign up with them again.

My best wishes with getting your PAC code, it may be difficult