Can you easily cancel an out-of-contract SIM-only if you're not switching?

nottsphil

I thought that was what STAC was for, but it turns out that it will only action the cancellation when another contract with a different provider is taken out. I still have a long-term iD SIM running and only took out a one month Talkmobile SIM because I needed to massively boost data for a couple of months. I've now used all their data 9 days before the second month is up and don't need any more, nor do I need the phone number. Do I have to actually call them?

Frozen_up_north

Yes, you have to call them.

This is from their web pages:

"call us on 5888 from your Talkmobile phone or 0333 304 8064 from any other phone. You can also call us and ask us to terminate your contract."

nottsphil

Frozen_up_north said:

Yes, you have to call them.

This is from their web pages:

"call us on 5888 from your Talkmobile phone or 0333 304 8064 from any other phone. You can also call us and ask us to terminate your contract."

Won't they then insist on the 30 days notice though? I thought only the PAC/STAC process prevented them from doing so when out of contract.

JSmithy45AD

nottsphil said:

Frozen_up_north said:

Yes, you have to call them.

This is from their web pages:

"call us on 5888 from your Talkmobile phone or 0333 304 8064 from any other phone. You can also call us and ask us to terminate your contract."

Won't they then insist on the 30 days notice though? I thought only the PAC/STAC process prevented them from doing so when out of contract.

Looks like you're stuck with the 30 days notice unless you ask nicely and they agree. A PAC is used for transferring your number when switching suppliers, a STAC is used for cancelling your old mobile number when doing the same (actually news to myself).

flaneurs_lobster

nottsphil said:

Frozen_up_north said:

Yes, you have to call them.

This is from their web pages:

"call us on 5888 from your Talkmobile phone or 0333 304 8064 from any other phone. You can also call us and ask us to terminate your contract."

Won't they then insist on the 30 days notice though? I thought only the PAC/STAC process prevented them from doing so when out of contract.

Yes they will, that's why it's called a 1 month rolling contract. 

You might consider PAC/STAC to a cheap PAYG that doesn't need monthly top-ups but that will cost you the price of activating the PAYG SIM (at least £5) and stuff it in a spare mobile or second SIM slot as a backup.

saajan_12

surely the method of cancelling doens't actually change the contract terms and they could still bill you for the final payment due to insufficient notice if you execute the switch too early?

However if you think it will help, get a cheap rolling contract eg Lebara's £1.50 for the first few months and stop the auto roll. 

flaneurs_lobster

saajan_12 said:

surely the method of cancelling doens't actually change the contract terms and they could still bill you for the final payment due to insufficient notice if you execute the switch too early?

No, the use of a PAC/STAC explicitly overrides any need for a 30 day notice period. You can still be billed for any part-month usage, although since payment is generally made in advance, a credit amount would be returned (why you shouldn't cancel any DD's/CPA's for a couple of months)

nottsphil

saajan_12 said:

However if you think it will help, get a cheap rolling contract eg Lebara's £1.50 for the first few months and stop the auto roll. 

Actually I was going to take out their 100GB for £2.99 for a few months on Tuesday anyway (NB MSE have the deadline at noon, not midnight). I'll have to bring that forward to now, but I'll be actioning PAC even though I don't need the current number. This is because I can't otherwise see them rushing to tell Talkmobile to end my contract, whereas they would need to do that to activate a contract using my number (presumably today). I really don't get why a new provider issuing a new number from its own allocation is forced to do this, because it's none of their business and there's nothing in it for them.

JSmithy45AD

nottsphil said:

saajan_12 said:

However if you think it will help, get a cheap rolling contract eg Lebara's £1.50 for the first few months and stop the auto roll. 

Actually I was going to take out their 100GB for £2.99 for a few months on Tuesday anyway (NB MSE have the deadline at noon, not midnight). I'll have to bring that forward to now, but I'll be actioning PAC even though I don't need the current number. This is because I can't otherwise see them rushing to tell Talkmobile to end my contract, whereas they would need to do that to activate a contract using my number (presumably today). I really don't get why a new provider issuing a new number from its own allocation is forced to do this, because it's none of their business and there's nothing in it for them.

Perhaps I'm misreading that but surely you need to take up the contract with Lebara and give them the number and PAC (or give it to them after the fact) to end your Talkmobile contract? Lebara can't and won't talk to Talkmobile on your behalf to cancel it without.

nottsphil

JSmithy45AD said:

nottsphil said:

saajan_12 said:

However if you think it will help, get a cheap rolling contract eg Lebara's £1.50 for the first few months and stop the auto roll. 

Actually I was going to take out their 100GB for £2.99 for a few months on Tuesday anyway (NB MSE have the deadline at noon, not midnight). I'll have to bring that forward to now, but I'll be actioning PAC even though I don't need the current number. This is because I can't otherwise see them rushing to tell Talkmobile to end my contract, whereas they would need to do that to activate a contract using my number (presumably today). I really don't get why a new provider issuing a new number from its own allocation is forced to do this, because it's none of their business and there's nothing in it for them.

Perhaps I'm misreading that but surely you need to take up the contract with Lebara and give them the number and PAC (or give it to them after the fact) to end your Talkmobile contract? Lebara can't and won't talk to Talkmobile on your behalf to cancel it without.

The alternative I was referring to was using STAC, which also forces Lebara to contact Talkmobile. Either way, they do exactly what you put in your first sentence. The only issue is that neither will happen today, because I didn't know I had to receive a physical SIM before using either.

flaneurs_lobster

nottsphil said:

JSmithy45AD said:

nottsphil said:

saajan_12 said:

However if you think it will help, get a cheap rolling contract eg Lebara's £1.50 for the first few months and stop the auto roll. 

Actually I was going to take out their 100GB for £2.99 for a few months on Tuesday anyway (NB MSE have the deadline at noon, not midnight). I'll have to bring that forward to now, but I'll be actioning PAC even though I don't need the current number. This is because I can't otherwise see them rushing to tell Talkmobile to end my contract, whereas they would need to do that to activate a contract using my number (presumably today). I really don't get why a new provider issuing a new number from its own allocation is forced to do this, because it's none of their business and there's nothing in it for them.

Perhaps I'm misreading that but surely you need to take up the contract with Lebara and give them the number and PAC (or give it to them after the fact) to end your Talkmobile contract? Lebara can't and won't talk to Talkmobile on your behalf to cancel it without.

The alternative I was referring to was using STAC, which also forces Lebara to contact Talkmobile. Either way, they do exactly what you put in your first sentence. The only issue is that neither will happen today, because I didn't know I had to receive a physical SIM before using either.

Pretty standard validation before you can give any instruction about a phone account - text message to make sure you actually have the SIM in your possession.

FYI PAC/STAC processing is a working day operation only.