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Switching from Pay monthly SIM contract to PAYG SIM

panda
Regular

I can't seem to find any information about switching from a monthly Three Advanced SIM 8GB Data Unlimited Minutes - 12 month plan to PAYG keeping the same phone number and using a physical SIM card (in an iPhone). How does one proceed and what is the timeframe as I believe there's one month notice on the pay monthly plans?

It it helps, I'd like to switch from a 'Three Advanced SIM 8GB Data Unlimited Minutes - 12 month' plan that is way past the initial year to a Three PAYG as I'll be spending time abroad so won't use much my UK SIM at all, but would like to keep my phone number.

Can it be done online or in the iOS app (I couldn't find how)? Should I go into a shop? Any other advice on how to do this? Thanks in advance.

Best solution
Best solution
JonathanB
Community Moderator
Community Moderator

Hi @panda,

Sorry for the misunderstanding. We intended to direct you to use either the "chat now" button or the phone numbers listed in the "Call us" section. Did you manage to get the transfer to PAYG arranged?

Thanks,
Jonathan



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43 REPLIES 43
PeteG
Community Support Team
Community Support Team

Hello. 

It's understandably frustrating to not be able to get this done. 

You can log a complaint in relation to the issue on one of the options here. I feel it would be worth pointing out though that logging a complaint about it is something the team can do, but escalating it to the complaints team will not give the team the ability to work round any system limitations.

Pete. 



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Ellieps
Fledgling

Hey @JonathanB ,

same problem here. Very frustrating spending more than half an hour on the Three Chat to just be told it's an IT system problem and that I can't do it.

If you think there's a way to actually make it happen, please DM me as well.

Otherwise the only option is to switch to another provider, which is absurd.

Thanks

frustrated3user
Fledgling

Was told the same thing today by someone on the Live chat - they can't move me to a PAYG sim due to 'changing the IT systems' or something like that. Very frustrating experience.

JonathanB
Community Moderator
Community Moderator

Hi @frustrated3user,

I'm sorry to hear that the team weren't able to help. We'd like to take a closer look into this, so I'll send you a PM to get you in touch with some more help.

To view your private messages on the community, click on your avatar image in the top right of any community page, then "Messages".

Thanks,
Jonathan



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Tania
Fledgling

Hi JonathanB,

How can I get in touch with you, as I also have been unable to switch from long expired contract to pay as you go without loosing my number.

PeterB
Fledgling

i have just come across this chat as I have also wanted to transfer my telephone number from my existing contract that has now expired into a PAYG SIM instead, and for much the same reasons as the original poster. The new contract deals offer more data than I really need for approx. 30% more monthly cost and there is no roaming, apart from purchasing individual blocks of time, at additional cost. I have a Three PAYG SIM already that provides me with all the data that I need AND roaming, all for slightly less than my older contract price.

I have spent a number of frustrating hours firstly with in-store staff then with the team on the 'live chat'  and have been given various responses ranging from being offered contract deals at 2.5x more than my previously expired contract through to being advised to get a PAC, transfer to another network then transfer back in again. Surely there must be another way?

I have been with three for more than 15 years and have always been more than happy with the service and coverage in my area and overseas.

 

Is there anyone from Three that reads these forums that can offer a simpler way, or are they happy to lose long term customers?

Chris_10
Regular

Hi Peter I am in exactly the same situation - did you resolve this - I feel like Im going aroudn in circles.  Its ridiculous all I want is to Transfer to PAYG sim to keep the Go Roam feature that I have had for years as |I havent upgraded my contract because I knew i would lose that feature

JonathanB
Community Moderator
Community Moderator

Hi @PeterB,

We were unable to offer a move from contract to PAYG during an interim period where some system updates were going through, but our teams that deal with retentions and cancellations should now have a process to achieve this. This has only just recently became possible again though. 

How long have you been trying to get this move to PAYG sorted out?

Thanks,
Jonathan



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frustrated1
Fledgling

This is still a problem - please see recent posts below from "frustrated3user" and myself about the same issue.   Using the chat brings absolutely no assistance.  

We need someone higher up in 3 to give us some definite answers, and fast.

--mary

GMC86
Fledgling

Hello, I came across this post when searching for an answer to the same question. 
I have just finished a live chat via the mythree app and was told that my number can no longer be transferred from an out of contract pay monthly tariff to a PAYG and retain the number. 
This is due to ‘new IT systems’ that do not have that functionality apparently. 
I find it difficult to believe that this method was recommended on here a week ago and now the systems have all suddenly been updated without this functionality. 

Can you please confirm if this is indeed the case, looking at the three website switching section it seems to suggest that you can still transfer numbers between 3 accounts?