Mobile users can now switch providers with one simple text

[AndyOrch]

Mobile users can now switch providers with one simple text...

 

Quote

 

Mobile phone customers can now switch providers with a single free text under new rules which have come into effect.

At the moment, customers have to phone their mobile provider when they want to switch to a new firm.

They are then given a porting authorisation code (PAC) to give to a new provider if they want to keep the same phone number.

But watchdog Ofcom says the need to speak to a provider can be one of the main factors stopping people switching.

As part of this process, customers can often find themselves dealing with unwanted attempts by the companies to persuade them to stay.

 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48816459

[honeybee13]

Is this system going to be foolproof, for want of a better word? I'm not techie, but given the history of people ending up switching electricity companies without meaning to, I hope the same can't happen with mobiles.

[BazzaS]

Hb, there are 2 stages to “porting”

 

a) you get a PAC from your existing provider, (and it is this stage they have simplified, making it available by text)

b) the PAC gets given to the new provider, confirming both that the subscriber wants to move, and that the previous supplier releases the number.

 

For “slamming” to occur, they’d have to get the code AND supply it to the new provider without the subscriber knowing. I doubt it will be as big an issue as with electricity ...

[honeybee13]

Thank you Bazza. Hopefully that will help people other than me.

 

HB

[king12345]

I have tried this yesterday but the text is not free and not even 3 knows how much it will cost and if the response messages would be chargeable. 

Might be a case of £20 per text with 4/5 text, so about £100.