Porting number half way through contract - cashback implications?

rhys

Hi,

In a nutshell, I'm 4 months from the end of my current Vodafone cashback contract (via mobiles.co.uk) and would like to start a new cashback contract on O2. It's essential that I can eventually keep my Vodafone number, but because I still have two cashback claims remaining on the Vodafone contract, I think I'm right in saying that I can only transfer to O2 when my Vodafone minimum term expires.

So, two questions:

• will O2 accept my Vodafone PAC code 4-5 months after start of contract? (I suspect the answer's a definite yes but would welcome clarification)
• will porting my number midway through my contract, but before my first cashback claim, affect my cashback eligibility? In case it's relevant, I'm looking at either dialaphone or buymobilephones to get the O2 phone.

Thanks for any feedback; apologies if this exact question has been covered elsewhere (I did a thorough search but failed to find any relevant threads).

sekrapa

Usually if you break your contract there will be a heavy penalty to pay, even if its only 1 month left. You are in a legal contract for a specified time. You normally have to pay for all the months that are left on your contract.

sekrapa

Guessing your questions then once you have paid all the months left on your contract plus any penalty to buy yourself out, then you will be issued with a PAC. Doubt whether you would get the cashback as you have terminated your contract that was set up with the cashback in place.

rhys

I'm not sure you've understood what I intend to do. I am not going to break my Vodafone contract or pay it off early, as I know that I need to submit an 18th month bill from Vodafone (my last one under their minimum term) to get my last cashback payment from mobiles.co.uk.

What I want to do is to have a 4-month period of overlap between the start of my O2 contract and the end of my Vodafone one.

So if I do that:

a) can I port my Vodafone number across to O2 4 months after the start of my O2 contract, i.e. when I will have completed my minimum term on Vodafone? Or will O2 not accept the PAC code because it's reached them so late after I started my contract with them?
b) can I still get the first (and subsequent) cashbacks on my O2 contract, even though I'll have ported my number relatively late on in the day? I'm fairly sure that doing this will not stop buymobilephones (or whoever) from getting their O2 commission, but do cashback providers have a clause enabling them to wriggle out of paying cashback unless phone numbers on bills etc. match up?

Thanks for any help.

grumbler

You can port the number, but porting will terminate your Voda contract. You will have to pay the termination fee and will have no bills to send for claiming cashback.

Regarding the cashback for the new contract, usually you can port the number and get the cashback, although you will have to send the bill proving the porting. However,

Yes you may port your number once you have recieved your new phone. Simply contact your new network provider who will require your existing mobile number and PAC code. Please note that O2 only allows you to port your number within the first 7 days of receiving your new phone. T-Mobile and Orange allow you slightly longer.

http://www.buymobilephones.net/customer-services.php

rhys

Thanks; that's useful. I'll contact buymobilephones to find out what that 'little longer' porting time is for Orange and T-Mobile, as those could be options for me too network-wise.

Lynsey

rhys wrote: »

Thanks; that's useful. I'll contact buymobilephones to find out what that 'little longer' porting time is for Orange and T-Mobile, as those could be options for me too network-wise.

I would contact the networks direct and not the reseller. Get clarification from the networks and ask for it it writing or email.
Once you have ported, you then need to inform the re-seller you have ported and also get clarification that your account has been updated with your ported number. Possible problems obtaining cashback if you don't, in fact very, very possible.

Can't you wait until you have your last bill and then take out a contract with o2?? Is there a particular deal you're after??

Lynsey