Charges for Porting Numbers between Networks

qsuzie1

Hi
I had a PAYG through the Utility Warehouse (UW) - on T-Mobile - and wanted to port the number across to Virgin. They have requested a £20 admin fee.

What do other companies charge when you port a number?

Is this a bit like a bank charge - ie financial cost way above the actual effort required by the companies - or is it a fully justifiable?

Any ideas?
suzie

chriswuk_2

Porting a number should be free............

chriswuk_2

Just phone em up & ask them for your PAC code. You should get a letter with it on. Phone up your new phone company & give this code to them, easy as that

espresso

qsuzie1 wrote:

I had a PAYG through the Utility Warehouse (UW) - on T-Mobile - and wanted to port the number across to Virgin. They have requested a £20 admin fee.

Let this be a warning to others, to stay well away from Utility Warehouse (UW)

:rolleyes:

shareef

What has that got to do with UW, surely its Tmobile charging him not UW?

espresso

T-mobile do not charge for a PAC, so it is presumably a UW virtual network SIM. I suppose that it will be well hidden in their small print.

System

I understand that networks/service providers are allowed to recover their admin costs from a customer porting in/out.

Thats where the £20 fee comes in.

I know that Vodafone used to charge an admin fee...

I think your out of luck, im afraid

qsuzie1

Hello

Thanks for those replies. Perhaps not many people port their numbers hence no exact figures on what each network charges.

Anyone with specific charges please post them.

I know that Virgin DO NOT charge as I have just checked with them.

Utility Warehouse gave me my pac code no problem but did mention the £20 at the time. I only got the letter confirming the charge after I had transferred - and yes - on checking the small print I find a note that states:

"In the event you wish to move the mobile telephone to an alternative reseller or carrier, and that reseller or carrier confirms to us that he is willing to accept such a transfer, we will charge an administration of £20 (inclusive of VAT). We may require this to be paid by you before we will transfer the number."

The only mention of any transfer fee in the glossy brochure called "The Utility Warehouse Guide to Transferring your Mobile Number" is:
What will it cost me to Transfer: Some service providers may charge you a fee to transfer your number(s), however, it is best to check with your current provider about their policy".

Hmmmm
Oh well you live and learn

medic1978

Lots of people port numbers all the time.

I know from experience that orange/o2/vodafone DO NOT charge.

Others above have said t-mobile and virgin dont charge.

I think charges for PAC per se are minority of providers rather than majority. However, they all charge you line rental up to your minimum contract term/notice period which is fair enough

MrRincewind

i`v worked in the telecoms industry for a number of years and it`s the first i`v heard of charges for porting, any company that has this rule, i would give them a wide bearth, it`s not an industry standard and only UW that charges this as far as i`m aware

olly300

I found out about 2 months ago that one company wanted to charge me a fee of £10 to port from a different network to O2 and looking at the OFCOM site this fee is perfectly legal.

OFCOM, the regulator, implies the maximum fee to be £25.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/mobile/company/porting/?itemid=286216

I know from porting to different networks over the pass 10 years that most shops don't charge you whether you are with Vodafone, O2, T-mobile and Three to port as to do so would make the network uncompetitive in a tight mobile telecoms market.