Help for the clueless please. Changing supplier

twopenny

I'm with 3mobile which has ramped up prices and changed business model.

Pretty sure I'll try 1p mobile. I'm just anxious moving from a privatish voucher system to depositing my CC details and having to top up online so I have some questions.

How do I find out the number? to text to get a PAC code from 3mobile?

How long will this take?

How long for a sim to arrive from 1p?

How do I cancel with 3 - or do I need too?

Could I just carry on with 3 until my credit is used and then stop?

I've spent the morning and more looking at the all the deals and t&c's so my brain is addled. :Life has thrown lots of curve balls recently which hasn't helped so I'd be grateful for some clear thinking.

Background: I'm a variable user. Usually a few texts between friends one month then nothing but have to phone multiple trades shortly then maybe nothing for a month or more so 1p seems to make sense. Probably £30 pa.

victor2

Instructions are here:

https://www.1pmobile.com/keep-your-number.taf

You don't need to do step 2 if step 1 works, so it's very easy.

Your new SIM will probably come by mail. Personally, I'd order it before requesting the PAC so that once it arrives you can check it in your current phone.

Using the PAC will automatically cancel with 3 - it sounds like you're on PAYG so don't have a contract.

Edit:

Any credit with 3 will be lost so either donate to a charity by SMS, enter a competition or just use it up.

If you're leaving 3 because of recent price increases, you MIGHT be able to get your credit refunded. Some on here have done so, but it can take a while and that offer may no longer be open.

twopenny

Thank you. That's the sort of thing I knew I wasn't thinking of.

Yes, I know that with 3 I was using £10 or less over 3 months and that did all I needed. So PAYG works ecconomically for me. It can be busy one month and nothing the next With the packages going up so much more for stuff I won't use it hasn't been worth it.

Oh yes, going from 3p a min to 35p a min is ridiculous. They obvously want rid and there is no monthly package to cater for their low use customers.

Unfortunately I had to top up with 3 due to hospital appts but there must be about £8 so I'm not inclined to go through a lot of hassle, so may go for a new 1p number and use up the credit but I like the idea of giving to charity. I read that thread. Not sure how you use your phone credit to donate though.

Checked the AirAmbulance - it's not on the list but wonder if you can too.

Neil49

Just to make you aware that 1p mobile require a £10 topup every 120 days to keep your account and sim active.

They use the EE network so make sure you get decent reception on EE before you commit. 

twopenny

It won't recognise my phone model but choosing the oldest from their options it's fine.

I live rurally so we don't expect much

eDicky

If you haven't already seen this, it may be useful..:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/switching/switching-mobile-phone-provider

getmore4less

The min topups with 1p give a annual cost which may not suit your use pattern

 RWG have some options that might work

Get the free option(with £15top up) for 100mins  then switch to the £3.50pm for the months  when you know you need more phone time
Drop back to the free.

Even one of the Labera/Lyca on the discount for a few months could work
Think £2/month for 6 month unlimited calls is the current deal.

Mellick

First thing I would suggest is to order a 1pMobile SIM and check that the coverage is good enough in your area as you are changing from one network to another coverage will vary.

If you are not happy with the coverage they give you 14 refund period.
If you are happy with coverage, then you can request a PAC from 3 as described in link someone posted above. DO NOT cancel with 3, this will happen automaically when you use the PAC but if you cancel with 3 your number will then not be able to be ported to another provider

If you order a 1pMobile SIM before 4pm on a working day it is dispatched by first class post that day, otherwise it will be dispatched on the next working day.

As for feeling anxious about privacy paying by credit card, they have this information which says they do not store your card details  

If your usage fluctuates from month to month then it will be a better option that paying a fixed amount each month which expires after 30 days.

savergrant

As I understand it you need to top up £10 to get a sim from 1pmobile.
However rwg will send you a sim for free and you can top up by now mobile voucher (apparently). If you are a light user you might find their £5 top up gives you enough free minutes texts and data each month, if not their £15 top up gives twice as much (3× the data).
https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/offers/

1pmobile suits people who use their phones a lot but sporadically, but if your usage evens out every month rwg is the best option.
If you pay rwg online your card payment is processed by a third party and will not recur unless you sign up to a monthly plan.
Once requested a pac code is valid for 30 days and the easiest way to get one is to text the word pac to 65075 from the phone number you want to move to another network. They will reply with an alphanumeric code to give to your new supplier. Until you port your new supplier will give you a new number.

savergrant

If you do request a pac but then change your mind it doesn't matter. Your existing service will carry on unless you give your pac code to a new provider.

twopenny

Last question hopefully.

When I have to text my supplier for a Pac do I put 333 in the Enter recipient part 
 And then Pac and the number in the message part?

Told you I was clueless