[oneyearwonder]

i currently have a contract with three, and im well overdue a new one, just not got round to it. i had a live chat online with a three representative and they said that if i take out a new contract with them them that i cant keep my existing number; to keep my number i have to go for an upgrade. how do their upgrade offers compare to the new customer deals, bearing in mind that i can get an instant £80(ish) cashback through a cashback site. is there any reason i cant ask three for a pac code on my old contract, then give them the pac code for my new one? any info would be well appreciated, my phone is on its last legs!

port to a pay as you go on another network then port back as a new customer

[oneyearwonder]

smart thinking and quick reply murker!!!!!
cheers

[Bantocks]

Originally Posted by oneyearwonder

i currently have a contract with three, and im well overdue a new one, just not got round to it. i had a live chat online with a three representative and they said that if i take out a new contract with them them that i cant keep my existing number; to keep my number i have to go for an upgrade. how do their upgrade offers compare to the new customer deals, bearing in mind that i can get an instant £80(ish) cashback through a cashback site. is there any reason i cant ask three for a pac code on my old contract, then give them the pac code for my new one? any info would be well appreciated, my phone is on its last legs!

which cashback site gives you £80 for signing up with 3?

[5to1]

Only thing is be sure to check the policy of 3 and the PayGo sim's network, wrt porting.

Some networks wont let you port in and out in the same month. So if you port to a PayGo you may have to wait 30 days before they will give you a PAC to port away.

And I don't know 3's policy, but I know Vodafone for example won't allow you to Port a number in after the contract has started. O2 I believe will only allow you to port in within 30 days of signup.

You don't want to have your number stuck on the PayGo sim and not be able to get it on your contract before 3's conditions for porting in expire

[oneyearwonder]

ok 521, all good points, ill look into it as i think i have an old vodafone sim knocking about.
cheers

[s1hastie]

port to a decent network and boycott these idiots.

The sooner more people start doing it the better.

[oneyearwonder]

hey binning, check the rates on quidco, some plans are at £80, last time i checked that was the one i wanted, looks like its a bit less now but still equates to around 2/3 months free for me. anyone know if hey would be likely to offer me anything like that on upgrade basis? i have been with them about 2 years, but only on a 12 month contract which i just didnt get round to changing. i dont know what the upgrade deals would be, and you cant see online as i assume they do it on an individual basis. so i would have to call them.........fun!

[davejerome]

Hi ya, I work for three and generally the upgrades are very similar to the new contracts. It does depend on your tariff. Less than £35 you will be better to leave and rejoin. £35ish then an upgrade will be similar and finally if you are a high spender then the deal will be better to stay.

Go into a Three store and see what they can offer you for upgrade or new connection.

If a new connection is better then as murker said "port to o2 p&g sim for 14 days then port back"

[Bantocks]

thanks will check out the deals about.

[sim667]

Originally Posted by murker1991

port to a pay as you go on another network then port back as a new customer

Thats what you have to do with most companies if you want to transfer your within the same company

[sim667]

Originally Posted by s1hastie

port to a decent network and boycott these idiots.

The sooner more people start doing it the better.

agreed

[davejerome]

It is true. I work for the company and it is so bad seeing how much 3 can do and what they don't do with it. They used to be very cheap with crap phones and crap customer service, now they had average deals, average/crap phones and very crap customer service.

[Bantocks]

Bit harsh!

They have some ok phones. I know some people rate the n95 quite highly and they have that.

Prices aren't that bad either 300 minutes for £15 isn't too bad either.

Was thinking of switching to them but mainly worried about the customer service. Agree that this sounds terrible.

Will probably go for O2 if the coverage in my house improves.

[oneyearwonder]

is there any reason i cant just ask three for a PAC code on my old contract, then give them the same code back again after i have taken out a new contract?

[londonguy1973]

Originally Posted by oneyearwonder

is there any reason i cant just ask three for a PAC code on my old contract, then give them the same code back again after i have taken out a new contract?

no networks will let you do that.

[5to1]

Originally Posted by oneyearwonder

is there any reason i cant just ask three for a PAC code on my old contract, then give them the same code back again after i have taken out a new contract?

Network operators were forced to allow porting to promote competition. Since not allowing you to take your number with you generally stopped you changing network, and so stifled competition between networks.

Since the deals you can get independantly and from the network vary so much IMO the legislation should be ammended to include new contracts on same network bought through dealers. They're should be no cases where a consumer can't take a deal because they can't take there number with them, even on the same network but different contract.

But the legislation doesn't cover on-net porting, so obviously the networks won't allow it

[piers-uk]

Originally Posted by 5to1

Only thing is be sure to check the policy of 3 and the PayGo sim's network, wrt porting.

Some networks wont let you port in and out in the same month. So if you port to a PayGo you may have to wait 30 days before they will give you a PAC to port away.

Any idea what Orange do?

[5to1]

Originally Posted by piers-uk

Any idea what Orange do?

Sorry, have no idea.

First hand I only know O2 insist you PORT-IN within 30 days. And Virgin won't let you PORT-OUT within 30 days.

You can just call them and ask, they have customer service numbers listed if you don't have an orange sim right now.

[oneyearwonder]

hey 521,
i called to cancel my contract today after speaking to the upgrade dept who were not exactly forthcoming with the offers, even though my "loyalty points were massive"???
you're bang on the mark there about numbver transfer within the same network, it should be allowed, its their problem now coz im going to o2, if i could have taken up a new 3 contract with same number i would, but they were offering me nowhere near what i wanted. They kept offering me extra free this and an additional free that, for the same nomey, but f i move to o2 and am meticulous about the cashback redemption my line rental will effectively be half. if the cashback doesnt go through worst case is that its cost me the same as three anyway!
cheers for everyones input much appreciated

[Geoggy]

who is your cashback deal with mate?

[olisun]

Originally Posted by piers-uk

Any idea what Orange do?

I have a good experience with porting nos with Orange in the past... PM to PAYG to PM... :-)

[piers-uk]

Originally Posted by olisun

I have a good experience with porting nos with Orange in the past... PM to PAYG to PM... :-)

Thanks. That is exactly what I intend to do, did you have to leave any period of time between the two?

Piers

[oneyearwonder]

hey geoggy,
dialaphone are giving £145 cashback (redemption) on 12 month o2 400 tariff, plus £60 automatic cashback when you buy through quidco- takes the effective monthly cost to under £18 a month!