UK: Mobile networks must provide an instant PAC code SMS service from July 2019 - Sensationalist Headlines

[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/12/19/cancel-smartphone-contract-just-one-text-message-ofcom-proposes/[/url] [quote]Mobile phone customers will be able to cancel their contract with a single text message under plans unveiled by Ofcom today. The communications regulator said mobile networks have made it too difficult for customers to switch contracts by forcing them to call up and attempting to persuade them to stay. Under the new rules they will be forced to instantly provide a so-called PAC code to those who want to keep their phone number or a cancellation code to those who do not. Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom's consumer group director, said the new rules would stop companies from “delaying and frustrating” the process.[/quote] TLDR right now if you want to switch network you usually have to phone them up, refuse any deals they throw at you, get put on hold a few times, and eventually get the PAC code which you need to transfer your number to another provider. From July 2019 you can just text a number which will instantly respond with your PAC code.

[QUOTE=Bob The Knob;52991897][URL]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/12/19/cancel-smartphone-contract-just-one-text-message-ofcom-proposes/[/URL] TLDR right now if you want to switch network you usually have to phone them up, refuse any deals they throw at you, get put on hold a few times, and eventually get the PAC code which you need to transfer your number to another provider. From July 2019 you can just text a number which will instantly respond with your PAC code.[/QUOTE] In Ireland - whenever I went into carrier and signed up with them and said I want to keep my number - they just asked what's the number and that's it. New sim they give me had old number in matter of minutes. Always made me wonder - what stops me walking into shop, asking for new sim and say I want to use my old number -> Give them my friends number and get basically ownership of his number, then simply hijacking all his knives from csgo/steam :v:

[QUOTE=arleitiss;52991903]Always made me wonder - what stops me walking into shop, asking for new sim and say I want to use my old number -> Give them my friends number and get basically ownership of his number, then simply hijacking all his knives from csgo/steam :v:[/QUOTE] They have enough of your info to at least make sure it's your number. There has been cases of that happening though.

[QUOTE=Michael haxz;52991910]They have enough of your info to at least make sure it's your number. There has been cases of that happening though.[/QUOTE] Well it's Pay As you Go. You literally don't even need to tell your name to just walk in and get new Sim Card.

[QUOTE=arleitiss;52991903]In Ireland - whenever I went into carrier and signed up with them and said I want to keep my number - they just asked what's the number and that's it. New sim they give me had old number in matter of minutes. Always made me wonder - what stops me walking into shop, asking for new sim and say I want to use my old number -> Give them my friends number and get basically ownership of his number, then simply hijacking all his knives from csgo/steam :v:[/QUOTE] Data Protection Act, an agent should not be able to get your account unless you do full security with you. When it comes down to pac codes. Vodafone (Who I used to work with) will deploy highest security and ask you around 3/4 questions about your account, and then provide your PAC Code.

[QUOTE=zeromancer;52991915]Data Protection Act, an agent should not be able to get your account unless you do full security with you. When it comes down to pac codes. Vodafone (Who I used to work with) will deploy highest security and ask you around 3/4 questions about your account, and then provide your PAC Code.[/QUOTE] I've had my number since 2008 and I've transferred across every single carrier in Ireland multiple times, I've transferred my number probably around 8-9 times so far and never have I been asked any sort of confirmation/validation.

[QUOTE=arleitiss;52991919]I've had my number since 2008 and I've transferred across every single carrier in Ireland multiple times, I've transferred my number probably around 8-9 times so far and never have I been asked any sort of confirmation/validation.[/QUOTE] I believe if you're calling from the number itself, it's a bit more lax.

[QUOTE=zeromancer;52991926]I believe if you're calling from the number itself, it's a bit more lax.[/QUOTE] I was always changing number in store.

Thank god, if only this was introduced years ago we wouldn't have had to talk talktalk to fucking court to get this silly code because they outright refused to give it to us.

Interesting how it works in the UK. I'm actually just in the process of transferring my number at the end of January myself. Here in Germany its rather simple, you basically just send them a letter that you wish to get your number free, they confirm it, you pay up to 30€ (max fee, free at some provider) and then you just tell your new provider to take over the new old number. If you are not cancelling your old contract you will just get a new number there. On your new contract you also got a new number that will be deactivated once the exchange is complete.

[QUOTE=Reagy;52991963]Thank god, if only this was introduced years ago we wouldn't have had to talk talktalk to fucking court to get this silly code because they outright refused to give it to us.[/QUOTE] Seriously? Sounds like a good story.

[QUOTE=Mitsuma;52992032]Interesting how it works in the UK. I'm actually just in the process of transferring my number at the end of January myself. Here in Germany its rather simple, you basically just send them a letter that you wish to get your number free, they confirm it, you pay up to 30€ (max fee, free at some provider) and then you just tell your new provider to take over the new old number. If you are not cancelling your old contract you will just get a new number there. On your new contract you also got a new number that will be deactivated once the exchange is complete.[/QUOTE] That sounds more complicated/expensive

[QUOTE=Mitsuma;52992032]Interesting how it works in the UK. I'm actually just in the process of transferring my number at the end of January myself. Here in Germany its rather simple, you basically just send them a letter that you wish to get your number free, they confirm it, you pay up to 30€ (max fee, free at some provider) and then you just tell your new provider to take over the new old number. If you are not cancelling your old contract you will just get a new number there. On your new contract you also got a new number that will be deactivated once the exchange is complete.[/QUOTE] What a ballache, 30 euros as well? I'd tell them to shove the fee up their arse and get it sorted.

[QUOTE=Bob The Knob;52991897][url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/12/19/cancel-smartphone-contract-just-one-text-message-ofcom-proposes/[/url] TLDR right now if you want to switch network you usually have to phone them up, refuse any deals they throw at you, get put on hold a few times, and eventually get the PAC code which you need to transfer your number to another provider. From July 2019 you can just text a number which will instantly respond with your PAC code.[/QUOTE] Meanwhile in America, they go full retard with the retention tactics. Standard practice...IE everyone offering cell service on a contractual basis...has you locked in and owing a MASSIVE cancellation fee if you don't time it to your usual...usually bi-annual...renewal. This fee can kiss a thousand dollars under the right conditions, as the cost of the phone(s) on the lines being cancelled is part of this fee and normally is paid in installments alongside the bill each month. [I]On top of that,[/I] the tactics used to persuade you are closer to bullying than anything else, and they will gladly put you on hold for extended periods of time in the hopes that you'll get tired of waiting and give up trying to cancel. We need that law desperately over here. Of course, we're getting....probably the exact opposite. [editline]20th December 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=Mitsuma;52992032]Interesting how it works in the UK. I'm actually just in the process of transferring my number at the end of January myself. Here in Germany its rather simple, you basically just send them a letter that you wish to get your number free, they confirm it, you pay up to 30€ (max fee, free at some provider) and then you just tell your new provider to take over the new old number. If you are not cancelling your old contract you will just get a new number there. On your new contract you also got a new number that will be deactivated once the exchange is complete.[/QUOTE] Heh. Cancellation fees stateside are fucking stupid. If I wanted to cancel my line with Verizon right now I'd owe them somewhere around $350. No, I didn't typo that. And I'm only a handful of months away from renewal. And that'd be [I]just for my line, not the contract as a whole.[/I] If I were to try to drop Verizon outright? We'd owe them well over $1200 for the five devices we've got and the cancellation fees of all five lines, plus termination fee for the contract itself, plus a laundry list of other bullshit fees they throw on for shits and giggles. 30 Euros to cancel...I'm half surprised they don't charge us the equivalent [I]just to talk to a cancellation agent.[/I]

[QUOTE=TestECull;52992118]Meanwhile in America, they go full retard with the retention tactics. Standard practice...IE everyone offering cell service on a contractual basis...has you locked in and owing a MASSIVE cancellation fee if you don't time it to your usual...usually bi-annual...renewal. This fee can kiss a thousand dollars under the right conditions, as the cost of the phone(s) on the lines being cancelled is part of this fee and normally is paid in installments alongside the bill each month. [I]On top of that,[/I] the tactics used to persuade you are closer to bullying than anything else, and they will gladly put you on hold for extended periods of time in the hopes that you'll get tired of waiting and give up trying to cancel. [i]etc.[/i][/QUOTE] Honestly I don't know anyone with a contract anymore. Without one, all you have to do is stop paying. I don't know why people keep subjecting themselves to being locked in to one carrier. All of them offer data-capable prepaid plans now. This isn't 2002 when Verizon would fuck you out of a data plan if you didn't want a contract.

[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;52992066]Seriously? Sounds like a good story.[/QUOTE] Its seriously not, they just outright refused to end the contract and let us move so we had to take it to the small claims court. Before a date could be set they got off their asses and gave us the code. We also had this problem with them back when talktalk bought out tiscali and refused to release our phone line so we could move to another provider, guess what happened. Small claims court again, this time they actually went through with it and lost. Hilarious how shit of a company they are.