Mobile customers can now leave their network by sending a free text following new Ofcom rules.
New Ofcom rules which allow mobile customers to leave their network but keep their number came into play on Monday.
In order to switch network but keep phone number, mobile users previously had to call their provider and request their PAC (porting authorisation code). This number was then given to a new provider in order for the switch to occur.
The phone call, however, would leave a lot of customers frustrated as they often would have to listen to their provider attempt to persuade them not to leave the network.
Under the new “text-to-switch” process, mobile users can now easily leave their network and keep their phone number by texting “PAC” to 65075.
The current mobile network provider will then respond within a minute with the PAC. This code is then valid for 30 days, ready to be given to the new provider.
Ofcom took to Twitter to announce the news:
thank u, text – how do you tell your mobile operator it’s been great, but you’re ready to move on? With a simple text message, of course.#TextToSwitch is coming on Monday. Here’s how it works: https://t.co/VAIf18BxOl pic.twitter.com/HRpfvqKb6O
— Ofcom (@Ofcom) June 28, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
“Switching between mobile providers can be a painful process for many. The hassle of getting your PUK code, waiting days to switch, and going through a period of not having your number activated, often makes people feel that switching provider simply isn’t worth it,” Holly Niblett, Head of Digital at Compare the Market, commented on Ofcom’s new text-to-switch process.
“Cutting out these obstacles will make the process easier and ultimately help people to get a better deal. Increased switching rates could even help stoke further competition amongst providers, and we may start to see more innovative, cheaper products coming to market,” Holly Niblett continued.
Telecommunications company Vodafone (LON:VOD) announced in May that it would cut its dividend by 40% ahead of the 5G launch.
At the end of last year, millions of customers of O2, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile faced an outage.
