When you enter a phone contract, you don’t know everything about the mobile service provider.
Friends, family, and advertisements compel you to choose a specific mobile service provider without carefully weighing the pros, cons, and actual cost.
After using it for at least a month, you will find out everything about the mobile service. And that is too late to cancel your phone contract without penalties.
Indeed, mobile companies offer a “cooling-off period” of 14 days (about 2 weeks), under which you can cancel your contract without paying anything.
But 14 days (about 2 weeks) are not enough to judge a mobile service. For example, you may stay in those areas where mobile signals are strong, and you find no reason to complain.
Mobile signals are generally strong in metropolitan cities, but reception may not be significant in rural areas, specific parts of your house, supermarkets, basement, and more.
Plus, you may find hidden mobile service charges after using it for a few months that may not be acceptable for you.
In all the above cases, cancelling your contract is the right thing to do and switching to a better service provider is the best.
Check out everything in detail below.
Table of Contents
Things to Know Before You Cancel Your Phone Contract
It’s best to go with the cheapest mobile service provider that offers quality services.
But often, people make mistakes while entering a phone contract. They don’t read the agreement, and such negligence creates problems when you want to cancel your phone contract.
Some terms and conditions forbid you to cancel your contract early, or you must pay some charges in case of leaving the contract.
Check Your Right to Cancel
Read your agreement and find out your rights mentioned in the contract. Remember, Ofcom regulates mobile service providers, and it binds them to make the switching process hassle-free.
You can cancel your phone contract without any penalty if your service provider increases monthly charges more than the Retail Price Index RPI.
You can cancel your contract within 14 days (about 2 weeks) without any penalty and without any reason, according to Consumer Contract Regulations 2013. Your first down payment will be refunded after standard deductions.
Your contract must have a minimum period, after which you can leave the contract without paying any fee. You are free to leave your phone contract if the minimum period is over.
If your service provider increases the charges of your fixed contract so that you find yourself in economic hardships, you are free to leave your contract according to section 62 Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Cancellation Fees
According to standard mobile service contracts, you must pay early cancellation fees if you cancel your phone contract within your minimum period.
Most service providers charge too high fees for cancellation. For example, if your contract is for 18 months (about 1 and a half years) and you want to cancel your contract after using 2 months, you must pay complete charges of 16 months.
So, it’s better to stay with your mobile service provider for a minimum period. If your minimum period has passed, you must send a notice to your provider. Next, you can switch your mobile service provider after 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks) in most cases.
Check If You Can Cancel Without Paying Any Fees
Paying months of fees to cancel your phone contract is never light-on-pocket. That’s why you always try to find a way to cancel your contract without paying any fee. Here are some legit ways to do it.
- Read your agreement and find the grace period under which you can cancel your contract without any penalty.
- Try to transfer your contract to another person. You can find buyers from your social circle and the internet.
- Find a mobile service provider that pays for your contract.
- Check if your mobile service provider has changed the terms of service after you have signed your You are legally allowed to leave your contract in the event of changes in terms of the contract without paying any fee.
- Try to negotiate with customer service and get a better deal to leave your contract.
- Report on a genuine issue with the mobile service to the mobile service provider. Next, tell customer service that you are filing a complaint to the authorities if they don’t cancel your contract.
- Move out of the mobile service area for a few weeks. Next, ask the mobile service provider to switch your number to another provider and cancel your contract.
Check Whether Your Phone is Unlocked
Most people take the phone while signing a contract with mobile service providers. But when they switch the mobile network, they must unlock their phone to use it with the next mobile service provider.
Ofcom has banned mobile services providers from selling locked phones in December 2021. Yet, it can also happen that you have a locked phone.
If your phone is locked, you must ask your service provider to unlock it, which can take from 10 to 28 days (about 4 weeks). Here’s a complete guide to unlocking your smartphone on any network.
Cancel Your Phone Contract by Text
You can cancel your phone contract over a phone call to customer service. But customer service representatives will always try to sell you a new deal. As a result, they will waste your time and compel you to never cancel your contract.
That’s why it’s best to leave your contract by sending a text. Now, you can take your mobile number and switch to a new network with the same number. Also, you can cancel your contract and leave your mobile number. Next, you can get a new mobile number on the new network.
PAC Code
Send the word “PAC” to 65075 to cancel your phone contract over text and take your existing number to another network.
You’ll receive the Port Authorisation Code (PAC) that you must give to your new mobile service provider. Right after sending the text to 65075, you’ll receive PAC.
Here’s a complete guide to switching mobile networks without any hurdles.
STAC
Send the word “STAC” to 75075 to cancel your phone contract over text and leave your existing number behind.
You’ll receive the Service Termination Authorisation Code (STAC) that you must give to your new mobile service provider. Right after sending a text to 75075, you’ll receive STAC.
More Information
Send the word “INFO” to 85075 to get more information on your phone contract and cancellation fees.
Other Ways You Can Cancel Your Phone Contract
Every mobile service provider offers multiple ways to cancel your phone contract and get switching information. Here is the complete information on four major mobile service providers.
1. Cancel EE Contract
To request switching information:
- Make a phone call to 150 from your EE mobile number
- Call 7953966250 using any phone number
- Send “INFO” through text to 85075
- Request using MyEE
To switch EE while taking your existing number:
- Make a phone call to 150 from your EE mobile number
- Call 7953966250 using any phone number
- Send an SMS with the word “PAC” to 65075
- Request using MyEE
PAC will be valid for 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks).
To switch EE while leaving your existing number:
- Make a phone call to 150 from your EE mobile number
- Call 7953966250 using any phone number
- Send an SMS with the word “STAC” to 75075
- Request using MyEE
STAC will be valid for 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks).
2. Cancel the Vodafone Contract
To switch Vodafone while taking your existing number:
- Request PAC using Vodafone Webchat
- Use your Vodafone account: Account Settings > Mobile Switching
- Make a call to 191 on your Vodafone number
- Send an SMS with the word “PAC” to 65075
PAC will be valid for 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks).
To cancel your phone contract while leaving your existing number:
- Request STAC using Vodafone Webchat
- Use your Vodafone account: Account Settings > Mobile Switching
- Make a call to 191 on your Vodafone number
- Send an SMS with the word “STAC” to 65075
STAC will be valid for 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks).
3. Cancel Three Contract
To switch Three while taking your existing number:
- Call customer support and request PAC
- Use your My3 account to request PAC
- Send an SMS with the word “PAC” and your date of birth to 65075
- Request PAC using Three Webchat
PAC will be valid for 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks).
To cancel your phone contract while leaving your existing number:
- Call customer support and request STAC
- Use your My3 account to request STAC
- Send an SMS with the word “STAC” and your date of birth to 75075
- Request STAC using Three Webchat
STAC will be valid for 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks).
4. Cancel BT Contract
You must call 08007831401 to cancel your contract with BT.
Call hours are:
- Monday to Friday, 8 am to 9 pm
- Saturday, 8 am to 8 pm
- Sunday, 9 am to 6 pm
What to Do After You Have Cancelled Your Contract?
Once you have decided to quit your current mobile provider by cancelling your phone contract, it’s necessary to find a provider with better options.
So, research and find out about a mobile service provider with better coverage and economical rates for your next contract.
On the other hand, if you don’t want a phone contract at all, here are two suitable options for you.
Go For PAYG Deals
Almost every mobile service provider offers Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) deals with customers. You’ll never get a phone, preloaded texts, minutes, and data.
On the other hand, you’ll have to top up your account and use the balance to make calls, texts, and browse the internet.
Also, you don’t need a good credit score to get PAYG deals.
If you don’t want long contracts with hefty monthly bills, PAYG deals are for you.
Here are the best PAYG deals that you can get right now.
Try SIM-Only Deals
If you don’t want a phone contract as well as a Pay-As-You-Go deal, then a SIM-Only deal is the one for you.
There will not be a monthly bill, but you do get inclusive texts, minutes, and data. Just top up your account and choose a SIM-Only plan.
If you don’t have a good credit history and you still want to make calls, send texts, and use data at discounted rates, SIM-Only deals will suit you.
Here are the best SIM-Only deals you can choose right now.
