Three PAYG price increase July 2022

mgns

Geoff_W said:

Geoff_W said:

With ASDA PAYG it looks like, in order to keep the account active, you have to top-up or purchase a bundle every 180 days. Is this true? That will increase to cost a lot.

This is what it says in their FAQ's...

"For your account credit to remain active you must top-up or purchase a bundle within 180 days of activating your account (i.e. when you first made a call, sent a text or used data) or your last top-up or bundle purchase.

After 180 days without topping-up or purchasing a bundle your account will become restricted and you won't be able to make calls, send texts or use data, however you will still be able to receive inbound calls and texts."

My current provider (Three) only expects me to make a chargeable call/text every 6 months, although I usually do this every 3 months in case they change the rules.

I'm not sure you have to buy a top-up/bundle every 180 days - it is definitely confusing as there is different information on the Asda Mobile website.

Unless something has changed (I haven't received any notification), I thought it was just a case of making a chargeable call/text every 180 days to keep your number active and retain your credit.

On the website, it states:

Does my balance ever expire?

As long as you use some mobile data or make a chargeable call or text once every 180 days, your credit won’t expire. Find out more about top-up expiry and keeping your SIM active.

I only use my phone in emergencies and now it won't work. How do I reactivate it?

You must make a chargeable call or text every 180 days to keep your number fully active. If you haven't used your SIM in the last 180 days, your calls will be forwarded to our automated service which means you won't be able to call anyone, however you will still be able to receive inbound calls.

rhcp

I'm past the 180 days and it still works fine.

SpanishBlue

sarahTT said:

I will definitely take the refund and leave 3. They have been really great for six or so years but their replacing the 321 tariff last year had already made me v unhappy. However, my OH is also with 3 and he has dug out an interesting idea (I think) which perhaps can help some people.

We have an account since time immemorial with those 18185.co.uk guys (they give you cheap calls, UK and international, via their own routing) although we have almost completely stopped using them. However... since calls to their 0808 access number are free from any mobile (including those with a 3 sim ) it is perfectly possible to use them from a mobile to call somebody. Currently a UK call has a connection fee of 4p and costs 2p/min landline and 6p/min mobile. While that's not the cheapest it sure beats the 35p/min 3 will soon charge. Just a thought.

It's actually 10p a minute for calling mobiles when calling from the free 0808 number.

victor2

I've ordered a free PAYG SIM from Asda and went into my Three account and requested my current credit back. It's only £10, but might as well have it. Had to wait about 10 mins in a queue, but got someone who asked me to confirm the first 6 and last 4 digits of the card last used to buy credit and said it will go back onto that within 8 working days. Didn't ask why I wanted the refund, just went ahead and requested it for me.

As soon as I get the Asda SIM, I will request a PAC and move my number over to it. Vodafone's coverage is actually better than Three around my home, so it looks like I'll be much better off. Do get calls over WiFi with Three in the house and from what I read that will work with Asda too, but shouldn't really matter if the coverage is as good as friends on Vodafone have found.

Allanr

victor2 said:

I've ordered a free PAYG SIM from Asda and went into my Three account and requested my current credit back. It's only £10, but might as well have it. Had to wait about 10 mins in a queue, but got someone who asked me to confirm the first 6 and last 4 digits of the card last used to buy credit and said it will go back onto that within 8 working days. Didn't ask why I wanted the refund, just went ahead and requested it for me.

As soon as I get the Asda SIM, I will request a PAC and move my number over to it. Vodafone's coverage is actually better than Three around my home, so it looks like I'll be much better off. Do get calls over WiFi with Three in the house and from what I read that will work with Asda too, but shouldn't really matter if the coverage is as good as friends on Vodafone have found.

Would I be right in thinking that if you get all your credit refunded other than the fact you wont be able to make calls, text etc you will still be connected to three network until such time as you transfer across to another provider?

Allanr

victor2 said:

I've ordered a free PAYG SIM from Asda and went into my Three account and requested my current credit back. It's only £10, but might as well have it. Had to wait about 10 mins in a queue, but got someone who asked me to confirm the first 6 and last 4 digits of the card last used to buy credit and said it will go back onto that within 8 working days.

Just for clarity why did you have to go into your Three account to request a credit refund?  When I log into my Three account I can't see anywhere to press to request a refund.

victor2

Allanr said:

victor2 said:

I've ordered a free PAYG SIM from Asda and went into my Three account and requested my current credit back. It's only £10, but might as well have it. Had to wait about 10 mins in a queue, but got someone who asked me to confirm the first 6 and last 4 digits of the card last used to buy credit and said it will go back onto that within 8 working days.

Just for clarity why did you have to go into your Three account to request a credit refund?  When I log into my Three account I can't see anywhere to press to request a refund.

Just start an online chat with support.

victor2

Allanr said:

victor2 said:

I've ordered a free PAYG SIM from Asda and went into my Three account and requested my current credit back. It's only £10, but might as well have it. Had to wait about 10 mins in a queue, but got someone who asked me to confirm the first 6 and last 4 digits of the card last used to buy credit and said it will go back onto that within 8 working days. Didn't ask why I wanted the refund, just went ahead and requested it for me.

As soon as I get the Asda SIM, I will request a PAC and move my number over to it. Vodafone's coverage is actually better than Three around my home, so it looks like I'll be much better off. Do get calls over WiFi with Three in the house and from what I read that will work with Asda too, but shouldn't really matter if the coverage is as good as friends on Vodafone have found.

Would I be right in thinking that if you get all your credit refunded other than the fact you wont be able to make calls, text etc you will still be connected to three network until such time as you transfer across to another provider?

That's what I confirmed with them, and what you woukld expect. My account still shows the credit on it at the moment, so maybe it will remain there until they process the refund.

qsk

victor2 said:
That's what I confirmed with them, and what you woukld expect. My account still shows the credit on it at the moment, so maybe it will remain there until they process the refund.

In their options, there are two choice: 1) Refund and close account; 2) No refund and PAC out. Do I get it right that they offered you a third one: refund without closing account so that you can PAC out?

muffinhead

qsk said:

victor2 said:
That's what I confirmed with them, and what you woukld expect. My account still shows the credit on it at the moment, so maybe it will remain there until they process the refund.

In their options, there are two choice: 1) Refund and close account; 2) No refund and PAC out. Do I get it right that they offered you a third one: refund without closing account so that you can PAC out?

I was able to request a refund before porting out through Three's social media chat:

https://www.three.co.uk/Support/social_media_webchat  (just put n/a if you don't have a social media username)

Afterwards I had to phone the call centre with my bank details as they don't take these over live chat. I was told to wait 8 working days for the refund to be processed and to not use any credit as this will affect the refund.