Getting a 3 PAC code - Are they b***sh***ing me ??

FF99

My 3 contract ends 28 May and I rang up today (19 April) to ask for my PAC. I know this is 8 or 9 days earlier than I should call to max out the value of my 3 contract, but I want to move on to my new contract sooner rather than later and am happy to pay for a few days of 3 contract that I end up not using.

I also know that 3 are notrorious for giving people the reun around when requesting a PAC. I had antcipated this with a story about how I had been given a new work contract so there was no point trying to sell me another 3 contract.

However, after allegedly speaking to someone, the CS agent told me I should call again on 21 April (presumably when he won't be answering the call, so he does not get the black mark for having failed to sell me a new contract) as 3 have a new policy of allowing notice to be given penalty free in the last 38 days of the contract. Today would be too early but 21 April will be OK.

This sounded like complete nonsense to me, but who knows - he may have been telling the truth !

JUst wondering if anyone else knows whether I have just been spun a yarn to get me off the line ??

DatabaseError

no idea, I had 45 minutes and almost lost the will to live when i asked for mine

ZhugeEX

From what i've gathered from talking to UK staff and customer service staff abroad is that Three UK have imposed targets on their retention team. Basically if they don't retain customers they could lose their job.

Hence their trying anything to stop you from leaving approach.

If the above is true it's a terrible thing to do to ones staff.

Just start telling them about Ofcom and all that, say that by law they have to give you a PAC within 2 hours of you asking. That should get them to back down.

latecomer

I used to have a 3 mobile BB dongle and when I called to cancel it I had got offered pretty much everything you could possibly think of but just kept repeating that I wanted it cancelled and didn't need anything else - got there in the end.

I would phone back and just keep mentioning that they are legally obligied to provide you with the PAC if you ask for it.

unclehugo

I had to help my girlfriend cancel her 3 contract and get a PAC code. Took over 50mins of offering everything to stay.

One advisor even put us pack to the automated service because we said no.

After 50 minutes and 11 times saying no we eventually got it

acc

3-mobile put me through a similar unpleasant experience when I left them a couple of years ago, and that's why I would never consider going back to 3 again.

Basically, the retentions staff, based in India, will doing anything to avoid give you the pac code. They would try to wear you down by talking on and on, repeating and repeating, which network are you going to, how bad that network is, how good 3 is. Then emotional blackmail, how well we've treated you, how can you do this to us. Then the trick of "pass you to the 'manager'" (the guy in the next seat), to confirm that 3 is giving you the best possible deal, ask you to think about it and call back, etc etc.

I ended up telling the guy 'Just give me the f*ing pac code' and he said 'OK', and passed me onto (possibly a genuine) manager to do it.

matttye

I think people just need to be firm.

Just say 'let me get this out in the open straight away. Nothing you can possibly say will make me consider staying with Three because I already have another contract and I don't want two contracts ongoing at the same time. I'd just like to get my PAC code and I'm afraid I don't have time for you to try to persuade me to stay.'

No idea if it will work but a lot of people are too amenable when trying to cancel and that's what they prey on.

lr1277

Be sure about your dates. 3 (and other mobile operators) ask you to give them a month's notice. If you use the PAC code before the month is over, you will still be charged for the month.
I told 3 I was leaving in the middle of June and requested my PAC code at the end of June. Then left it for another week before giving the PAC code to the new operator. I think they still charged me for 3 days aftter I had left them.
Like many, I had the long conversation, including an offer to put a device in my home that would allow me to receive calls when I had no reception at home. They even rang back a few days later to offer me a fantastic deal, but that would have meant staying with 3 for 2 years. I declined.

unclehugo

matttye wrote: »

I think people just need to be firm.

Just say 'let me get this out in the open straight away. Nothing you can possibly say will make me consider staying with Three because I already have another contract and I don't want two contracts ongoing at the same time. I'd just like to get my PAC code and I'm afraid I don't have time for you to try to persuade me to stay.'

No idea if it will work but a lot of people are too amenable when trying to cancel and that's what they prey on.

I tried everything and had to talk over the top the guy loads of time no matter how many times I said all I want is the PAC code and we have no intention of staying with three he still went on and on and on :mad:

blue70

I don't know if this is possible with 3 but I got my PAC code from O2 via their online chat help system.

I got connected, asked for my PAC, was transfered to retentions who tried to sell me further contracts none of which suited my needs and after a little while was given my PAC online.

Having done this in the past over the phone it was much easier online as you can get on with other computer related things and it's not as annoying getting a written hard sell!!

mysk_girl

That sounds awful! I requested a PAC code from Vodafone last week, they did ask why I was leaving (they took a local mast down resulting in poor signal in the village), but I had my PAC within 10 minutes... Took it to Orange, had a new mobile and number transferred within 2 hours of starting the process. Was very impressed.