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Orange "PAC debit" charge - what to do?

p5x
p5x Posts: 380 Forumite
My orange contract finishes on the 1st of december. I decided to wait until a few days ago before requesting my PAC from them thinking that I could get the PAC and essentially terminate the contract as soon as the number ports over. It seems, however, that Orange like to do things a little differently and conveniently manage to charge you for requesting a number transfer.

On the letter they sent with the PAC, it tells me that they'll bill me for 30 days from the day I requested the PAC (ie-it serves as your 30 day notice) so if I decide to port on day 1 of requesting the PAC, they'll charge me for the other 29 days anyway.

So, just a heads up for everyone else, either give your notice at the start of your 12th month of your orange contract or get a PAC at the time...only problem is that you only have 30 days to use the PAC before it expires :( so you'll either pay more by requesting the PAC later or pay for your full 12 months but only get about 11.5 months service.

I'm pretty sure that the other networks don't do this so why do orange do this? Is there any way of getting out of the charge, say, by downgrading for the remaining month i'm supposed to be with them?

Comments

  • elljay20
    elljay20 Posts: 5,200 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    it's standard practice, you have to give 30 days notice. why not wait a bit before porting your number?
    :p It is better to be thought of as an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt
  • dov
    dov Posts: 211 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Just request the charge to be removed. It worked for me.
  • p5x
    p5x Posts: 380 Forumite
    elljay20 wrote: »
    it's standard practice, you have to give 30 days notice. why not wait a bit before porting your number?

    I know you have to give 30 days notice but i'm pretty sure other networks terminate your contract as soon as you port your number, rather than making you pay for the other 20 odds days.
  • p5x
    p5x Posts: 380 Forumite
    dov wrote: »
    Just request the charge to be removed. It worked for me.

    Really? Did you say anything in particular?
  • elljay20
    elljay20 Posts: 5,200 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    p5x wrote: »
    I know you have to give 30 days notice but i'm pretty sure other networks terminate your contract as soon as you port your number, rather than making you pay for the other 20 odds days.


    not in my experience. 3 voda and t mobile all make you pay. if they don't then you are not paying for your 30 days notice but people who just cancel without porting are:confused:
    :p It is better to be thought of as an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt
  • p5x
    p5x Posts: 380 Forumite
    I ported from O2 last year and that's how it worked for me so it must be different for different networks I guess?
  • p5x
    p5x Posts: 380 Forumite
    Just spoke to orange and they say i've been mis-informed and that they won't be any extra charges. I'll believe it when I see it (or don't see it rather:)) since they've told me about the charges in writing.
  • dov
    dov Posts: 211 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    p5x wrote: »
    Really? Did you say anything in particular?

    I just said I was unaware of the charges and they didn't make much sense since it was impossilbe to give the 30 days notice via requesting a PAC without lossing part of the 30 days.

    I am waiting for the next bill for confirmation that that charges have been taken off.

    From memory, I think I've never been charged when terminting a contract via PAC. Certainly not on o2 and Virgin.
This discussion has been closed.
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