Saying bye bye to Orange

peasblossom · Oct 23, 2013, 16:58:05

Well I'd like to but, on the off chance someone has an answer to this (you never know) I'd like to ask what it costs to switch. I'm on a payg tariff and yup, I'd have to cough up to leave. (I checked and this is right but it's silent on the £ involved.) Daren't ask in case they assume I definitely want to leave and start the process. Anyone?

Baz · Oct 23, 2013, 17:50:28

Im not an expert but I find that very strange...a PAYG that you have to pay to leave

isnt that the idea of payg, just use it when you want,how much you want. So as far as I know it doesnt cost to switch unless you leave a contract early, say a 18 month contract and you leave after 16 months.

Theres no harm in asking they shouldnt take it as you leaving unless you actually tell them " i wish to end my contract from...." whenever date.Also they usually say they require 30 days notice.So if you do want to leave make sure that you do tell them 30 days before the date your contract is due to end.They should tell you if you ask when will be the earliest you can leave without paying or if you wish to leave early how much it will cost.

Again, just enquiring about it is not saying you want to leave.

MisterW · Oct 23, 2013, 17:58:28

QuoteI'm on a payg tariff and yup, I'd have to cough up to leave.

I'm with Baz, that doesn't sound right at all!. I moved my PAYG number from Orange to Giffgaff not long ago. You just need to call and request a PAC code, they can't charge you for it unless you're in a contract. The only thing you lose is any credit left on your phone since that won't get transferred. In fact what I did was use one of the charity text message donation services to use most of my credit as I didn't want Orange to get it!.

Baz · Oct 23, 2013, 18:25:11

haha thats a good idea about the charity text MisterW.

Yeah the PAC code you need only if you want to keep your number you have now and use it on your new provider.The codes only last 30 days from when you ask for them,ask the same time you tell them you want to leave and they should give it to you over the phone or within a day I think.Not sure of the time scale,mine have always been when I phoned up to cancel.

Simon · Oct 23, 2013, 18:26:16

As above. Pay, use it, and go! There should be no contract involved.

MisterW · Oct 23, 2013, 18:40:18

Quoteand they should give it to you over the phone

Orange sent it as a text message to my phone there and then.

peasblossom · Oct 23, 2013, 22:17:21

Thank you. I'm really not sure how I got the idea I had to pay now but I don't and I know this because I rang to ask and having got the answer promptly asked for and received my PAC code. Now to work out exactly who to go for. It's down to two providers.

Lance · Oct 24, 2013, 13:46:53

Three get my recommendation at the moment.

zappaDPJ · Oct 24, 2013, 19:03:04

I'd recommend Tesco Mobile (O2 network) especially if there's the possibility of having two or more contracts with them. I pay £20 per month in total for two SIM only contracts.

Lance · Oct 24, 2013, 22:44:15

My work blackberry is on O2 and 10 times out of 10 my personal iphone on Three has a better, stronger signal. I only pay £10 per month sim only too.

Steve · Oct 25, 2013, 06:14:57

Three signal is non existent downstairs at home (iPad) O2 is fine on the phone, my other choice for me is Orange it's well covered locally with good 3G signal.

Technical Ben · Oct 25, 2013, 09:27:40

The "you have to pay" comes from the young crowd (or slightly older, if going by the friends and people I know) who always, despite best advice get a contract then decide to change 6 months later. A 12 month contract has a buy out clause etc.

I've known friends do it multiple times over, and I just look at them like

politely. (Got nothing good to say, don't say it)

peasblossom · Oct 25, 2013, 18:56:32

They really need to go for Three, Ben, don't they? (Contract ends when credits runs out apparently.) Or one of thsoe rolling SIM only contracts. But they may have been told all this. Incidentally, Three were one of the two. Thanks people.

peasblossom · Nov 15, 2013, 17:50:06

So, I'm getting towards to point I can do this now and I'd like to do what MrW suggests with the rest of my credit. My question is, how do I time this? And can you donate parts of a pound (like 50p or 51p, say?) TIA.

MisterW · Nov 15, 2013, 19:20:30

I think you can only donate whole £1's. Have a Google for just text giving and your town/county to see what local charities have the facility.
The number porting usually happens within a day or two of the request so I did it as soon as the PAC request had been made.

pctech · Nov 15, 2013, 19:55:14

Another vote for giffgaff here but as where I live is a black hole for pretty much every network bar O2 I am somewhat limited.

JohnH · Nov 22, 2013, 20:09:56

5 bars on Vodafone with a Sure Signal and 20% off the line rental under the Employee Advantage Scheme works for me.

peasblossom · Feb 06, 2014, 18:35:47

I guess most of you thought this was done and dusted. Sadly not. Nigh on 3 months and Orange still won't (it seems) give me an unlocking code so, would any of you use an online service to obtain a code?

Simon · Feb 06, 2014, 18:39:48

As long as you're out if contract, what they're doing has to be illegal. I'm sure someone will know of a regulatory body you can threaten them with.

peasblossom · Feb 06, 2014, 18:50:58

Ofcom don't regulate unlocking (they see it as an equipment issue.) Wiki says companies aren't actually obliged to do this. Wiki might be wrong of course... I am aware of CISAS, by the way.

MisterW · Feb 06, 2014, 18:54:08

Quotewould any of you use an online service to obtain a code?

I used one recently. Bought a Moto G from Tesco, unlock code £2 from ebay. Worked a treat!

pctech · Feb 06, 2014, 19:00:07

Only time I've heard that is with Virgin Mobile, you'd have had to top up at least 30 quid to get a PAC which is of course was not an issue in my case when I left as I'd had an active SIM for four years, I ported my number to O2.

When I wanted to move to Giffgaff I just requested a PAC from O2 Customer Services and they texted it to me.

How long has the Orange SIM been active?

peasblossom · Feb 06, 2014, 19:08:22

Well put it like this. If it's stopped being active, Orange haven't said anything. And I have had this phone for long enough for them to give me a code.

pctech · Feb 06, 2014, 19:12:16

Ring and ask for the PAC (don't use the word cancellation) and see what they say.

The PAC is valid for 30 days once issued, your phone will keep working as is until a transfer is processed.

peasblossom · Feb 06, 2014, 19:16:57

It's an unlocking code not a port authorisation code I need, though.