3 Mobile - problem

[chocky909]

3 Mobile - problem

My Dad and Uncle both have "3" mobiles paid for by my uncle (direct debit). The contract started about 4 months ago.

My Uncle has just emigrated to France and has signed up for a French mobile.

Thing is, my Uncle is thinking of cancelling the Direct Debit as he isn't using his mobile. But my Dad's mobile number is very valuable to him - he is self employed. The reason my Uncle is paying for it is that my Dad hasn't got Direct Debit on his Bank Account and hasn't a Credit Card.

Is there anyway to transfer this number to another account or Pay as you Go? Would a Direct Debit cancellation prevent him from transferring his number? And lastly is there a way of having a mobile phone contract without having direct debit or credit card ie monthly bills

Hope someone is 'au fait' with mobile contracts and transfers coz its a minefield of small print and procedure out there..

[KingPhoenix]

Have you spoken to 3 at all?? They maybe able to explain the options available

Changing your payment method doesn't cause your phone to get cut off, so he won't lose the number simply by switching to monthly payment at the Post Office or by debit card. And when we got married, Mrs T's phone was transferred from her mum's account to mine without any bother. That was on Orange though, I don't know about 3. I would have thought they would be so keen to keep you, they would not want to put obstacles in the way. The worst you can expect, I think, is a monthly surcharge of a couple of quid for not paying by direct debit, and maybe a one-off admin charge of about £10 for moving a phone from one customer account to another.

I have also successfully moved an Orange phone from contract to PAYG, but you can't do that within the initial 12-month period you own the phone of course.

[chocky909]

no not personally, but then as I said - it's my uncle's contract - for both phones. And he's living up his retirement in France.

He is talking about cancelling the direct debit - he's is closing down his UK bank account so the direct debit would need to be transferred to his French account anyway.

Plus I think he is angry at how bad the reception was up until now and just wants to cut the payments and let them deal with it. My guess is that 3 would play ball regarding transferring the number after such a cancellation.

My dad just wants to keep his number. Maybe going back to o2 or Vodaphone as the reception was fine.

Originally Posted by chocky909

no not personally, but then as I said - it's my uncle's contract - for both phones. And he's living up his retirement in France.

He is talking about cancelling the direct debit - he's is closing down his UK bank account so the direct debit would need to be transferred to his French account anyway.

My dad just wants to keep his number.

Then your dad should simply take the bill to the post office each month and pay it over the counter with the Giro slip. Or phone up and pay with a debit card. Cancelling a Direct Debit will not terminate the phone service.

[chocky909]

Originally Posted by Chris T

Cancelling a Direct Debit will not terminate the phone service.

Oh, you mean they would automatically start to send bills to the registered address if the direct debit was cancelled, followed by reminders, fines and bailiffs if unpaid?

I think my dad would be happy enough to put up with the bad reception until the 12 month contract was up if he could pay a monthly bill by debit card.