Can I give 30 day notice to end 12 month contract at month 11 & not be charged extra?

khgibb

This might sound like a daft question, but I'm just about to be 30 days from the end of my orange 12 months sim-only contract. I don't want to renew but move to vodafone due to cheaper plan and high cashback offer that ends in 3 days.

What I'm not sure about is whether I can give my 30 days notice now, with the final date the contract ends just after the 12 month minimum, and just pay the standard 30 days notice period. Or will they consider that as terminating early and try and charge and exit fee on top?

Logic tells me that if its a 12 month contract then you should be able to leave without penalty at 12 months exactly, otherwise all 12 month contracts are actually 13 months minimum. But mobile operators are often really sneaky so not sure if it works like that or not! Plus I've been burnt in the past my one call centre person telling me something which I act on and later turns out not to be true which creates a whole lot of pain to sort out.

Anyone know/done this before?

anotheruser

Yep.

So long as you get the dates exact then you can leave right at the end of the 30 days.

I would call them up and see what they say. Some will allow you to state your cancellation now and it'll just end at the 12 months. Others need it on the right day.
Don't call up after the 30 days has gone other wise you would have to pay for the 13th month.

khgibb

Thanks - good to know. Presumably the notice period would start once I've applied by PAC code though, rather than the date I ring to cancel?

Cycrow

If you get your PAC code, then it will work differently.

you dont need to give notice period for the PAC code.

Once you give it to the new network and they use it, then the previous contract will be canceled on the date its used.

d123

Cycrow wrote: »

If you get your PAC code, then it will work differently.

you dont need to give notice period for the PAC code.

Once you give it to the new network and they use it, then the previous contract will be canceled on the date its used.

I would add, and even if you use the PAC on day 1 of the last month, you will still be billed for the last 30 days.

Best procedure with a PAC is to get it in the last 30 days and use it around day 24-25 of the last month (always best to start the PAC on Mon-Wed of a week, so if there is a problem there isn't a weekend where nothing can be done).

khgibb

d123 wrote: »

I would add, and even if you use the PAC on day 1 of the last month, you will still be billed for the last 30 days.

Best procedure with a PAC is to get it in the last 30 days and use it around day 24-25 of the last month (always best to start the PAC on Mon-Wed of a week, so if there is a problem there isn't a weekend where nothing can be done).

I thought that the date you use the PAC code is effectively used as the date you give notice that you want to cancel the contract - hence you end up being charged for 30 days after the date that it is used. Is that not correct?

grumbler

The day you use PAC is effectively the day you terminate the contract.
The day you request PAC is effectively the day you give the notice.

IMO, this is pretty logical.

Buzby

It is actually quite illogical. Certain networks will suggest a PAC overrides a formal cessation request when it does not. All the customer is required to do is give 30 days notice. It should not matter if you at day 25 ask for a PAC, which is only your intention to take your number with you.

But each try to confuse the issue by placing their on interpretation on what you can and cannot do.

d123

grumbler wrote: »

The day you use PAC is effectively the day you terminate the contract.
The day you request PAC is effectively the day you give the notice.

IMO, this is pretty logical.

Agreed, it's also the way I've always seen a PAC used.

samrw18

Buzby wrote: »

It is actually quite illogical. Certain networks will suggest a PAC overrides a formal cessation request when it does not. All the customer is required to do is give 30 days notice. It should not matter if you at day 25 ask for a PAC, which is only your intention to take your number with you.

But each try to confuse the issue by placing their on interpretation on what you can and cannot do.

As far as I'm aware, a PAC code has to be valid for 30 days, so a provider has to charge until day 30 as you could use the PAC at any time in those 30 days?

Number29

samrw18 wrote: »

As far as I'm aware, a PAC code has to be valid for 30 days, so a provider has to charge until day 30 as you could use the PAC at any time in those 30 days?

The PAC is valid for 30 days, but the provider typically stops charging the day the number transfers over to the new network.