Does asking for your PAC code automatically cancel your contract?

IlonaRN

As per the title: does asking for your PAC code automatically cancel your contract?

I'm looking to get a smartphone (preferably s3 or OneX), and would like to stay on the Vodaphone network, where I have been a customer for over 10 years.

I was not offered a deal on the phones under £30/month, even though I can get a Vodafone deal for £20.50 a month via other websites. Hence, I have asked for my PAC code. Does asking for this bring my current contract to an end when the PAC code arrives? I am currently on a rolling contract.

reehsetin

No not until you use it (i.e. give it to another supplier and complete the port out. otherwise the contract will just carry on and the PAC will expire (usually 30 days not sure about voda)

dduk

As already said, requesting a PAC does not cancel your contract, USING the PAC and moving your number to a new provider will cancel your contract.

Also note that you can not use the PAC with the same provider. If you are currently with Vodafone you need to move to a different provider.

Buzby

Whether it does or it doesn't, depends on the policy of the network. This is because some will treat the exiting of the number to another provider as your contract being cancelled - which is ludicrous, as you may simply have wanted to move the number, and have your contract & service continue with a new number on the existing handset.

It shows you what disarray the market is in for them to 'assume' that for one thing to happen, the second naturally follows. The extension to this is when a network will issue a PAC, but if that code is NOT used, say the contract has not been terminated. Since the T&C's I've read do not make this connection it again is simply custom and practice of that particular network.

For the avoidance of any doubt, you need to put your requirements (ie 'cancellation') in WRITING, so that any side issues like PAC requests cannot be used to keep the contract running.

grumbler

Buzby wrote: »

...some will treat the exiting of the number to another provider as your contract being cancelled - which is ludicrous, as you may simply have wanted to move the number, and have your contract & service continue with a new number on the existing handset.

It shows you what disarray the market is in for them to 'assume' that for one thing to happen, the second naturally follows. ...

It's not an assumption. PAC is a code for keeping your number when switching providers.
http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/telephone/PAC

Mobile phone customers have the right to take their number with them when they switch provider. This is known as known as mobile number portability.
...
To take your number with you when you change companies, first contact your current mobile provider and tell them you want to leave. Tell them you want to take your mobile number(s) with you and ask for a Porting Authorisation Code or PAC.
...

So blame Ofcom, not providers, if you want to blame somebody.

Guys_Dad

Buzby wrote: »

Whether it does or it doesn't, depends on the policy of the network. This is because some will treat the exiting of the number to another provider as your contract being cancelled - which is ludicrous, as you may simply have wanted to move the number, and have your contract & service continue with a new number on the existing handset.


For the avoidance of any doubt, you need to put your requirements (ie 'cancellation') in WRITING, so that any side issues like PAC requests cannot be used to keep the contract running.

I think you may mislead some readers if they follow your advice literally.

If you ask for your PAC code on day 1 and then on day 2 cancel your contract in writing, opening a new contract with a different network, then if you didn't use the PAC code till, say, day 27, there is a danger that you might lose your number.

Also, when you write "This is because some will treat the exiting of the number to another provider as your contract being cancelled " this implies that some networks do NOT cancel the contract if you use the PAC code. If so, which ones please so that I can avoid?

Rustic100

Hi,

I asked for my PAC code from Vodaphone as I want to go on to EE and give my I Phone to my daughter.

Vodaphone said if I get the PAC code this will cancel the contract and I will have to pay a £75 termination fee.

I clearly said I DID NOT want to cancel the contract, just wanted my main number back, and they should revert the phone to its original number when purchased.

I insisted on the PAC code which i was given saying I would deal with the termination fee and legitimacy of this later, so as with previous poster looking for clarity? I have not used the PAC code yet and think I have 30 days, and on 6th Nov is I believe the first day I can cancel the contract without fees.

Any further views!

System

I assume that you still had more than 30 days to go on your contract, in which case it would be an early termination.

You can not have a contract without a live number so as soon as the number transfer using your PAC is complete then the contract will terminate.

Jon_01

Using a pac always closes the acc. That's the way all the networks operate.

The original number may well have been reassigned to someone else, so that's not an option and there's no system in place to do it anyway...

grumbler

Rustic100 wrote: »

I asked for my PAC code from Vodaphone as I want to go on to EE and give my I Phone to my daughter.

Vodaphone said if I get the PAC code this will cancel the contract and I will have to pay a £75 termination fee.

The contract gets terminated when you use PAC, not when you ask for it or get it.
The Early Termination Fee is due for the remaining days of the minimum term or of 30 day notice period if they were not paid in advance.

....I DID NOT want to cancel the contract, just wanted my main number back, and they should revert the phone to its original number when purchased.

This is impossible. The moment you port the number out the contract gets terminated.

I insisted on the PAC code which i was given saying I would deal with the termination fee and legitimacy of this later, so as with previous poster looking for clarity? I have not used the PAC code yet and think I have 30 days, and on 6th Nov is I believe the first day I can cancel the contract without fees.

It's safer to use it at least 2-3 days earlier as porting can take a few days and PAC lasts for 30 days and then expires.