Switching from Pay monthly SIM contract to PAYG SIM

[panda]

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.

[Helen44]

Absolutely insanity!

After over a decade as a three customer, I am told the same thing as previous posters: if you want a PAYG you have to leave. Not only that, they disconnected the chat before I got the chance to tell them I'll cancel the contract then! An absolute outrage.

[LukaszM]

Hi @JonathanB 
same story here.
 my contract is going to expire soon, so 2 days ago I decided to go to sim pay monthly.
after final thoughts about that, I changed my decision.
today I want to cancel that order and move to Pay As You Go, 
when i contacted Live Chat they were unable to help me for the same reason as many people before mentioned. 

are you able to help me move to Pay as you go?

Many thanks 

[PeteG]

Hi there. 

Moving you over to Pay As You Go isn't something can be done, sadly. You can move your number to another network with a PAC, and then move it back to Three on PAYG. The outcome is the same but it's more steps to get it done. 

Pete.

[Helen44]

I think that's wishful thinking on your part Pete... I for one will not consider coming back to Three after being forced to leave.

[jimjamz]

As of May 2024, Three are still unable to switch Three customers from a Monthly account to a PAYG account.

I spoke to customer support, who confirmed this.  I also received the same information by speaking to an agent via the live chat.

The only way to achieve this is to follow their bizarre procedure of requesting a PAC, moving to another network, then moving back to Three on a PAYG SIM.  Ludicrous! It's 2024 and how long have Three been around?  Yet, they cannot achieve such a commonly requested task in order to retain customers.  If you put me through so many hoops to try and keep me on a Three monthly contract, what makes you think I'd go to all the effort to return to Three just to be on a PAYG?

[herbief]

Is this still ongoing?  I am getting the same response from customer support (via 333) and getting no ETA on when this will be resolved.  Seems completely ridiculous!  I registered a complaint but don’t have confidence it will ever get addressed.

[KateS]

Hey @herbief,

Unfortunately, we're unable to offer a swap from Pay Monthly to Pay As You Go currently. It is something we've been able to do in the past, however, at this time, we're unable to process these requests.

The only way around this would be to port your number to an alternative provider on a PAYG SIM temporarily and port back to Three on a Pay As You Go account.

We're sorry for the inconvenience.

Thanks,
Kate

[podvodoy]

Can we use a PAC code from a Three contract to transfer a number into a new PAYG three sim? Without going to a different provider inbetween? 

[JonathanB]

Hi @podvodoy,

PAC codes can only be used to move to a different provider.

Thanks,
Jonathan