Switching Networks - Is PAC necessary?

Bestselling_Author

My O2 contract ends in 31 days time, so I'm considering giving one month's notice. I have an iPhone 4S, and was planning to 'upgrade' to the 5, until Apple decided to pull the old 5 and push its 5c instead. :mad:

Still, I am actually happy with my 4S, but now the contract is drawing to a close there's no need to continue paying £24 a month for 400 minutes, unlimited texts and 100mb of data when I could now switch to a SIM only plan. Three's 600mins, 5000 texts and 1Gb of data for £9.90 a month looks interesting.

It doesn't bother me about keeping my current phone number, so I don't see that I need to ask for a PAC. But from reading the forums it seems that asking for the PAC is the magic phrase for getting through to retentions. (I don't particularly want to leave O2, so would like to give them the chance to try offering something similar.) Then again, I've read some posts on the forum that suggest a PAC is needed in order to cancel the contract, so do I need a PAC even though I don't want to transfer my number to a new provider?

Can I cancel a contract without asking for a PAC? Does asking for a PAC put me in a stronger position than not asking for one and simply calling to terminate my contract? Or am I in a stronger position because I'm not bothered about retaining my mobile phone number?

Many thanks.

grumbler

You don't need it if you don't want to keep your number.
Using it does help to make sure that the old contract is terminated.
Yes, after getting it you are likely to get contacted by the retentions department.
After getting it you don't have to use it. However, if you get it and don't use, the contract goes on regardless of any cancellation notice given earlier.

Bestselling_Author

Thanks for your advice grumbler. The PAC looks the safest way to get the contract cancelled then.

cookie365

If you ask for a PAC just to show you're serious about changing, you don't need to worry if they call your bluff - if you don't use the PAC within a month it times out and you stick with your existing contract unless you specifically end it some other way.

macman

Bestselling_Author wrote: »

Thanks for your advice grumbler. theThe PAC looks the safest way to get the contract cancelled then.

But if you are not porting your number, then you won't be giving your PAC to the new provider. And in that case, your contract will continue until you give your 30 days notice.
A PAC is an time-limited 'option to cancel'. It is not giving notice.
If you don't want to port, just give your 30 days notice. Either way, they'll still put you through to retentions to dissuade you.