Why do we have to pay 30-days notice when leaving Mobile Company

don9999

To leave my mobile company (EE) I requested a PAC code and was advised that I had to use it within 30 days. Fair enough.
I had requested it around one month before the end of my 12-month contract.

However, at the end of the month, I realised that I couldn't leave yet (I had to get mobile unlocked which takes 10-14WDs), so I had to request a new PAC code. Again, fair enough.
However, I am told this starts another 30-day notice period. I 'sort of' agree with this.

However......I will be charged for this 3-day period, even if I use the PAC code after 2 weeks and move to another provider. Why can't the mobile company terminate the contract as soon as I use my PAC code, and refund me for the 2 weeks that I am no longer with them ? ? ?

My 13th month with the company is going to cost £28, whereas moving to a new company will cost me £12 (net) per month, so I want to move ASAP. Hence I would plan to move as soon as the phone is unlocked, probably in 2 weeks time. Yet, I will still be paying the remainder of the 4 weeks with EE.

Am assuming that this is the same for ALL mobile companies.
If I assume that some people use their PAC codes straight away (and lose a whole month of costs) and some people wait till the end of the month to use their PAC code (so use the whole month they have paid for), then on average, the company is getting 2 weeks payments from everyone that leaves.

I accept that this is their 'process', but why 'should' it be?
Where is the logic? Other than them extracting more money out of consumers?

Surely it would be relatively simple for them to charge us only up to the period that we use the PAC code? Whether we use it at the beginning of the 30 day period, or the end.
If it's not used at all, then it expires, and they carry on charging you - I accept that.

When I leave a gas company or electricity company, I pay the supplier I am leaving 'up to the day I leave' not till the end of the month! Why do I have to pay to the end of this 30-day period for a mobile provider, whether I use it or not?

I've known this for ages, but have had a bad day, and this has annoyed me today, so thought I'd ask on here.

I asked the guy at EE, and whilst he agreed it WAS unfair, he asked his manager. He was advised that it was an OFFCOM rule that they have to give us 30 days notice.
I wonder whether this is just the mobile companys' mis-interpretation of OFFCOM rules....

I can understand that OFFCOM instructs mobile companies that they have to allow a 30-day period to use a PAC code. But I can't believe that OFFCOM have instructed the mobile company's to charge consumers for the full 30-days even if they use the PAC code to switch company 'within the 30-day period'.

Does this make sense?
It does to me.
But maybe I'm missing something.......

Don

grumbler

>> The 10 worst acronyms if you're a pedant (grrr) - Martin Lewis' Blog...

Is it a rhetoric question? - Because the T&C say so.
The 'guy at EE' and his 'manager' lied to fob you off - Ofcom has nothing to with this. And, AFAIK, Vodafone charge only for the actual number of days until you port the number out - and it's the only provider doing this: When does a Vodafone contract end?

And it's not mobile companies only that do this. Don't know about other ISPs, but my Plusnet says in the T&C:

If you want to end our agreement, ... you'll need to give us 14 days' notice. We'll continue to provide the services and you'll need to pay for all charges during this period.

[Deleted User]

I had a 30 day sim with O2 and when they gave me my PAC code they didn't charge me beyond the day the code was used.

don9999

OK, so it seems I am correct.

I read that other message and it 'may' be that Vodafone only charge up to the point you use the PAC code (though there appears to be some dispute).

As I suspected, few people probably check, or know how much they have been charged when they leave.

I simply don't understand why these companies can't amend their systems to charge us 'up to the point' that we use the PAC code. If we don't use it, carry on charging us.

I do believe that the 'guy at EE' and his 'manager' lied to fob me off, but.......I wonder whether they 'were' describing the company's mis-interpretation of OFCOM's guidelines. And hence possibly ALL mobile company's mis-interpretation (in their favour!)

I wonder where I find these OFCOM guidelines, or contact them...? Any ideas...?

I'm guessing that OFCOM advise that a mobile company HAS to give 30-days for a user to use the PAC code.
But the mobile companies are interpreting this as they have to (or 'will') charge us for 30 days, whenever we decide to use the PAC code.

grumbler

don9999 wrote: »

I simply don't understand why these companies can't amend their systems to charge us 'up to the point' that we use the PAC code.

The answer is very simple. They can, but they don't want to - because the only reason they exist is to make profit.
They set the notice period to some tolerable level that most people don't question.

I wonder where I find these OFCOM guidelines, or contact them...? Any ideas...?

You are looking for a Black Cat in a Dark Room. In Which There is no Cat.

Ofcom rules are about PAC (not PAC code) only, not about notice periods.

don9999

Thanks grumbler.

Am sure that's why they DO do it. To get money for nothing from us.

However, I do wonder if enough fuss was kicked up about it , whether they would change...?

After all, that's how such dodgy practices get changed (in time...).

I understand that they will shortly be introducing a new system for switching, so that it mimics other utilities - broadband, electricity, gas etc.... We should only need to inform the new company, and 'they' will deal with the old company to perform the switch.

I wonder how they will charge us then? As we won't be giving the old supplier any notice. We just inform the new supplier who arranges the switch.....

sdduk

camelot1971 wrote: »

I had a 30 day sim with O2 and when they gave me my PAC code they didn't charge me beyond the day the code was used.

Yeah i agree with you i left Three about 3 months ago and they never charged me when i got my Pac code it finished as soon as i gave it to ID who i am with now i have never been charged since.

grumbler

camelot1971 wrote: »

I had a 30 day sim with O2 and when they gave me my PAC code they didn't charge me beyond the day the code was used.

sdduk wrote: »

Yeah i agree with you i left Three about 3 months ago and they never charged me when i got my Pac code it finished as soon as i gave it to ID who i am with now i have never been charged since.

I am not saying that you are wrong, but often it's not very obvious and you can be even due a refund after porting the number out. This is because they charge you for a month in advance and you pay for ~15 days in advance.
E.g.
01 - you get PAC, but this doesn't mean that you must use it;
05 - bill with an advance charge for the next 30 days;
15 - the billed amount taken;
25 - you port the number out. Not only you don't owe anything, but they owe you a refund for 5 days (01- 05).

Keith_Alger

I'm in the process of leaving Three Mobile and they have the 30 days notice in their Terms and Conditions. However, I've an email from them admitting that even if I give them 30 days notice and ask for a PAC code they would not take any notice of my having given them notice if I failed to use my PAC code!

This all came to light, as they've already billed me beyond that 30 day period, and I found it eye wateringly difficult to get them to even acknowledge that I had indeed given them 30 days notice!

My mobile number is due to be transferred tomorrow morning, so I'll wait and see what happens!

grumbler

Keith_Alger wrote: »

I'm in the process of leaving Three Mobile and they have the 30 days notice in their Terms and Conditions. However, I've an email from them admitting that even if I give them 30 days notice and ask for a PAC code they would not take any notice of my having given them notice if I failed to use my PAC code!

Yes, getting a PAC voids any notice. If you don't port the number out, your contract goes on..

This all came to light, as they've already billed me beyond that 30 day period, and I found it eye wateringly difficult to get them to even acknowledge that I had indeed given them 30 days notice!

My mobile number is due to be transferred tomorrow morning, so I'll wait and see what happens!

Phone bills: reclaim unused credit

boatman

What annoyed me was when i gave 33 days notice from the end of the contract and told them I did not want the number. Was told they only accept 30 days, call back in 3 days!! Surely its 'at least' 30 days, because if you send a letter you cannot guarantee it arriving exactly 30 days before the end of the contract.