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3 PAYG to Asda mobile.. a saga.

FedUpWithHikes
Posts: 55 Forumite

in Mobiles
I joined 3 with their 3-2-1 PAYG offer, some years ago, because it was a good price, and the credit didn't expire - ideal for a low-use user. I was annoyed when they had to rename it because of big rate rises (10p. 10p and 5p) a while ago, but since I wasn't using it a lot, and I couldn't find an alternative, I stayed.. until the latest price hike! I checked MSE, and the 1pmobile offer looked OK, until I saw you have to use it regularly, so I decided on Asda.
I was online with 3 for hours, being transferred between different departments trying to offer me a 'deal' (but never quoting the price), so I said I wanted to leave, and asked about my remaining credit. I picked up a SIM card at my local Asda, and registered it, created an account, and then I got a PAC from '3' and typed it in, when I was told it would be sorted by the next day. Initially, I didn't know 3 would clear my credit immediately, but they did. The initial credit on the Asda SIM ran out, so I tried topping up - but my bank flagged it and sent me a text to confirm, but I was unable to reply, so they blocked it! I tried swapping SIMs to reply using the Asda SIM, but there wasn't any credit!
I called the bank and sorted out the payment, and things looked OK, but when I checked my bank a few days later, the refund didn't show. I can't get back in to my '3' account because it's closed, and I couldn't get through their phone menu because it prompts for your number and then says "not recognised"! In the end, I tried the "sales" number to get through to a person, who transferered me. I was told the refund takes "10 working days"! over 2 weeks, skipping weekends! I asked why, if it was going to take so long, why they had cleared my credit immediately - it seems their system only allows for refunding a specific amount, and they didn't want me to use the phone in the meantime!
Something I have discovered with Asda, is that it relies heavily on calling or texting their number, and neither the app, or website, provide another means to contact them..
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Comments
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What a palaver. I am half way through doing the same as you. Got the PAC code from 3 but not sent it to Asda yet. Got a sim today from Asda but not put it in phone as yet. 3 days ago I told the chat line that I was leaving. She said it would take 3 days for my credit to appear in my bank. (Others say 7). She did ask me for some digits of my bank account to refund the credit to. I will hopefully still be a 3 customer until I give Asda my PAC code but am hesitant to use my phone now as the credit will be different to what we discussed on chat if I do. Let no one say it is easy to transfer your provider and keep your number.0
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check your credit, on both SIMs, before you submit the PAC - you may find you can't use either, like me. '3' told me to wait until the 21st.. Transfers should be immediate, so there's no reason for even a 7 day delay, and if they agreed to refund whatever the remaining balance was when closing the account, we wouldn't be 'offline' any longer than overnight..I didn't get notifications about the progress.. the only clue my number had transferred was a "welcome to Asda" message, even though I had already created an account for the new SIM.
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