Leaving Orange - 30 days notice and PAC code

mrobbo

My current Orange contract ends on 23/04, which means I can give them my 30 day notice on 24/03. I wish to take out a contract elsewhere and retain my number.

Is giving 30 day notice and requesting a PAC code essentially the same thing?

If I were to request a PAC code on 24/03, am I free to pass this on to another company straight away, or do I have have to wait until contract end?

If the former, and I get a shiny new contract elsewhere within the notice period, will I be charged by Orange up until contract end?

What is the tidiest way of :

- giving 30 day notice
- obtained PAC code
- passing PAC code to other company
- minimising cost with Orange in terms of charges up until contract end

Many thanks in advance

Si682000

They are different. The PAC expires after 30 days. You can use it straight away but you will still have to pay the charges for the rest of the notice period.

I would use your PAC about 3 days before the end of the 30 days notice. The PAC process is normally pretty quick (next working day) but this will give you a bit of leeway

macman

Getting a PAC is not giving notice. It's simply an 'option to quit'. If you don't use it, your contract continues as before.
One cancels the other.

vincerob69

Why not terminate your contract before 23/04?
Orange T&C's mean you can terminate prior to the end of your minimum term without going onto a 30 day rolling contract as long as you have paid the line rental until the 23/04.
Assuming you pay your March bill you will be O.K as you pay in advance.
Ask for a PAC code in April and then use it before the 23rd, you
should only owe them for any non-inclusive calls.
The process of moving networks is straight forward , you just ring up your new provider and give them the PAC - they do the rest. It takes a few days to transfer
Orange may of course offer you a deal to stay when you telephone customer services for the PAC.

mrobbo

Ok, thanks for the great advice. I will phone in April some time leading up to contract end and ask for my PAC

Having been a loyal customer to Orange, I have been offered miserly deals to try and keep me to stay. I think I'm going to go on a 30 day sim only deal, I think, and assess HTC One and SGS4 deals once they've been out for a while.

Looking at this deal, if it helps anyone.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/25th-26th-march-full-monty-sim-16-down-from-26-5000-texts-2000-mins-talk-unlimited-1506533

Del_Astra

Remember and inform Orange you are off to a 30 day Sim only deal, as that will prevent you getting mid term price increases. I was about to go 30 day sim only last Nov but went for the Orange 12 month sim only deal, which they said wouldn't rise as it was sim only and for 12 months - and I fell for it!

thefirs

From EE/Orange website:

TRANSFERRING YOUR NUMBER AWAY FROM ORANGE

As an Orange customer, we give you the opportunity to keep your mobile number if you decide to leave us. You will have to request your PAC at the same time you give us your notice that you will be leaving Orange.

Pay monthly customers dial 150 on your mobile or 0800 376 2285 from any other phone (call charges may vary, please check with your provider).

Pay as you go customers dial 450 on your mobile or 0800 376 2285 from any other phone (call charges may vary, please check with your provider).

There is no charge to get your PAC. Simply call customer services and they will help organise this for you. Any disconnection requires a 30 day notice period, and if you're still in contract then early termination charges may be applied.

If you phone us for a PAC, we can give it to you over the phone or we’ll send it by text within two hours. Your PAC is valid for 30 days. Once you’ve received it, it’s your responsibility to provide the code to your new service provider who will be able to place the request for the number to be transferred.

Your new provider should be able transfer your number within one working day, but please note that there’s no porting activity on weekends or UK bank holidays.

Even though Orange will charge you no extra rental if you port out before 23 April, don't forget that they'll keep everything you've paid up to the 23rd. If you don't ask for the pac on the right date which by my reckoning is actually 25th March being day 1 of a 30 day period ending on 23rd April.

If you wait until after 25th March to request the PAC then the end of 30 days notice falls after 23rd April so you will end up paying rental for that extra time.

It's almost impossible to get perfection on this without paying double rental for a few days, and so if retentions can offer an acceptable deal then you can sleep easy at not being had over, and at least until the next renewal!

mrobbo

Wow. Phoned up for my PAC code, and the guy simply read it out to me whilst on the phone. No transfer to retentions, no proper questions on why I wish to leave.

Bizarre. I'm not complaining, as I'm determined to leave, but I found that a little strange.