How to smoothly change contracts and keep number?

King_Mustard

It's now 21/01/2018.

Current contract: 12GB data, 600 minutes, tethering, Feel at Home, £15pm, 12m contract (ends 27/02/2018)
Topcashback offer: 12GB data, unlimited minutes, tethering, Feel at Home, £13pm, 12m contract + £55 cashback

With the cashback, it makes it roughly £8.50pm.

I called Three and they said they couldn't offer this over the phone as it's for new customers only. They said they can honor the £13pm but not the cashback price of around £8.50pm.

They tried to explain that I'd have to buy the new contract, cancel my current one, port my current number to a PAYG SIM, then port that number to the new contract.

I'm worried if I go ahead and order this new SIM whilst the new one is active, that for one month, I'll be charged for both, during the crossover period.

Whereas if I cancel my current one first then order the new one, I'd have a period of having no mobile connectivity.

Basically, can anyone suggest the best way to do it? Dates etc.

mobilejunkie

Since you have to either give 30 days' notice or ask for a PAC and transfer the number you'll pay for another 30 days anyway (and an ETC if giving notice early). If you wait until the existing contract has ended the other deal may well not be there. You're also assuming that TCB will honour their cashback offer; in my experience they are completely untrustworthy nowadays, which is why I stopped using them.

If you're that keen order the new contract whilst asking for a PAC to transfer the number (via another provider) and either have two contracts for another month or move the number straight away and pay for 30 days' which you won't be able to use on the old contract.

[Deleted User]

Just take the £13 per month minus the cash back.

Those deals are for new customers only.

King_Mustard

!!! wrote: »

Just take the £13 per month minus the cash back.

Those deals are for new customers only.

It's ridiculous that they treat new customers better that someone who has been loyal for 10 years.

mije1983

King_Mustard wrote: »

It's ridiculous that they treat new customers better that someone who has been loyal for 10 years.

'Loyalty' is a very outdated idea, from both sides of the coin unfortunately.

mac.d

If you are only going to lose the cashback of £55 and save yourself the hassle of purchasing the new contract, and porting your number (and probably having to pay a slight overlap of the two contracts), why not just take up their offer to match the £13 and be happy with that.

Think of it as saving yourself £24 on your current contract instead of worrying about the £55 cashback.

[Deleted User]

I'm sure back when you were a new customer you were getting a good deal at that time

System

Ask for a PAC and you'll find the retention department are more flexible.

Otherwise, you could always take out the second contract and convert your current one to 3 PAYG without charge. Then ask them to move your PAYG number onto your 2nd contract after a few weeks.