Transfering my PAYG number (whinge)

saver2000

I just got off the phone from three - I am transfering my orange number to them.

Before the agent would take my PAC code, I had to give him:

Name
Postcode
Full Address
Date of Birth
I also needed to give him a password so he could set up an account.

Why oh Why do they need to know all of this?

OneADay

To make sure no one is nicking someone else's number - and probably to send you marketing material in future.

saver2000

I think it's purely a marketing thing - I can't see what knowing these details would confirm?

Jon_01

So when you call back you can prove you are you.

Under the data protection act they can only speak to the acc holder. They take info on a number of points so that if you forget your password they can verify you with other details.

saver2000

Just got a text saying "Your registered billing address at 3 has been successfully updated" ???

Billing Address?? For PAYG?

saver2000

It wouldn't prove anything though - If I give my name as Mickey Mouse I can just give that next time I call up?

I don't have an account with them, it's PAYG

Techhead_2

If they didn't, there would be nothing stopping me phoning up, getting a PAC and thus blocking your account. You would lose all your credit. Or I could phone up and report your phone and SIM missing, it would be blocked and stop working. I could then have a replacement SIM sent to me. and so on.

I don't really understand why you are surprised?

Techhead_2

saver2000 wrote: »

It wouldn't prove anything though - If I give my name as Mickey Mouse I can just give that next time I call up?

I don't have an account with them, it's PAYG

You have a Pay and Go account. Its up to you what you register as your owner details.

You do seem dreadfully unaware as to how these things work.

saver2000

I don't see how knowing my name/address etc proves I am the one who bought the phone? There was no link before I phoned up so how could these details be used as authorization?

Techhead wrote: »

If they didn't, there would be nothing stopping me phoning up, getting a PAC and thus blocking your account. You would lose all your credit.

You mean getting a PAC for your number and transferring to my mobile? You would need to know my SIM number and phone number surely?
Getting a PAC for my number would require the same details as well.

Techhead wrote: »

Or I could phone up and report your phone and SIM missing, it would be blocked and stop working. I could then have a replacement SIM sent to me. and so on.

If this was the case, random people would be able to block someones phone just by knowing their personal details?

Wintermute

saver2000 wrote: »

I just got off the phone from three - I am transfering my orange number to them.

Before the agent would take my PAC code, I had to give him:

Name
Postcode
Full Address
Date of Birth
I also needed to give him a password so he could set up an account.

Why oh Why do they need to know all of this?

You probably spent longer complaining about this on here than you did giving customer services this information. What's the big deal?

Wintermute

saver2000 wrote: »

If this was the case, random people would be able to block someones phone just by knowing their personal details?

They can and it does happen as there are times where the account holder are unable to report the phone stolen (i.e. violent robbery and they're in hospital).