Mobile phone company won't give me PAC code
Mark
I want to transfer my mobile number to a new operator so I am trying
to get a PAC code from my previous company. I telephoned their
"customer services" department and they refused to give me a code
citing "Data Protection" (I had not yet 'registered' the phone -- but
they won't let me do this now). They told me to go to one of their
shops to prove who I am. I did this and got a password set up. At
the shop they told me I could not get a PAC code from them, instead I
had to phone the customer services department again. I phoned again
and they told me the password was useless and I had to go back to the
shop again. They also told me I would be committing fraud if they
gave me a PAC code! I complained and asked to speak to the manager
and he also said they could not give me a PAC code unless I registered
the phone by going back to the store. He said I could give fake
details if I wished!
Surely there is no law prevents them giving me a PAC code in this
situation? Isn't encouraging me to give fake details a bit dodgy too?
zaax
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Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:52:17 GMT
Alot of companies use this as an excuse. The data protection act only
covers personal details and no more. I would talk to trading
standards and the phone regulator.
Though I would registar the phone & new sim card with your new
provider.
Tim Jackson
Sounds like bad training of the staff in the shop. Try going back there
with the phone and your ID. Ask to speak to the shop manager, and ask
him/her to phone Customer Services for you.
--
Tim Jackson
ne...@timjackson.invalid
(Change '.invalid' to '.plus.com' to reply direct)
Tim Jackson
>
> I want to transfer my mobile number to a new operator so I am trying
> to get a PAC code from my previous company. I telephoned their
> "customer services" department and they refused to give me a code
> citing "Data Protection" (I had not yet 'registered' the phone -- but
> they won't let me do this now). They told me to go to one of their
> shops to prove who I am. I did this and got a password set up. At
> the shop they told me I could not get a PAC code from them, instead I
> had to phone the customer services department again. I phoned again
> and they told me the password was useless and I had to go back to the
> shop again. They also told me I would be committing fraud if they
> gave me a PAC code! I complained and asked to speak to the manager
> and he also said they could not give me a PAC code unless I registered
> the phone by going back to the store. He said I could give fake
> details if I wished!
Or alternatively, if the password isn't acceptable when you contact them
by phone, is it intended to enable you to access your account via the
phone company's website? That may also have a facility for applying for
a PAC code.
Pete Zahut
Don't know the answer to your question but (a) ask in uk.telecom.mobile and
(b) if necessary, make the call to customer services while you're in the
shop so that (i) you don't waste time and money travelling from/to shop and
(ii) you can put the conversation on speaker and all take part so that 'left
hand knows what right hand's doing' as it were.
Doctor Dave
if they don't provide one within the timescales stipulated by Ofcom
then you will be reporting them to Ofcom.
I am not sure that "not registering the phone" would count as a good
enough reason by the regulators.
Robin
> enough reason by the regulators.
>
that the PAC code can be withheld if "customer fails to provide adequate
identification that he or she is the legitimate account holder". See
http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/telephone/refuse_PAC. After all, it'd not
be a "good thing" if anyone could just come along and port a number 'cos
they felt like it.
--
Robin
PM may be sent to rbw0{at}hotmail{dot}com
sid
The phone should be irrelevant, it is the number you want to move which
is attached to the sim until it is moved to the new company. You could
conceivably use the current sim in any phone you like. I have more than
one phone and swap sims between them, I have had my number moved from
sim to sim a few times within one provider and it is usually very fast.
the_constructor
"Mark" <i...@dontgetlotsofspamanymore.net> wrote in message
news:ieq1f6hfsktdvf72f...@4ax.com...
I had a mobile phone given to me. I acquired a SIM Card for O2 and used it
for quite some time, then I wanted to transfer the number to Tesco. I rang
the customer services of O2 and they immediately gave me the PAC code. I
then rang Tesco Mobile and gave them the number and within a week my number
was transferred to new provider.
I didn't have to register with O2 or Tesco....
Geoff Berrow
<the_con...@freeukisp.co.uk> wrote:
>I had a mobile phone given to me. I acquired a SIM Card for O2 and used it
>for quite some time, then I wanted to transfer the number to Tesco. I rang
>the customer services of O2 and they immediately gave me the PAC code.
Useful to know as I am now with O2. When I asked for my PAC from my
previous integer based phone company it took twenty minutes of
argument (literally - we timed the call) while the operator repeatedly
rubbished my choice of phone. This, despite the fact that I told him
I had already bought it and that it was in my pocket.
--
Geoff Berrow (Put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs www.4theweb.co.uk/rfdmaker
Doctor Dave
> > I am not sure that "not registering the phone" would count as a good
> > enough reason by the regulators.
>
> Sounds as if the shop got it wrong. But that said, Ofcom will confirm
> that the PAC code can be withheld if "customer fails to provide adequate
> be a "good thing" if anyone could just come along and port a number 'cos
> they felt like it.
> --
> Robin
> PM may be sent to rbw0{at}hotmail{dot}com
No but that's a rather theoretical point which isn't really relevant
here because the OP has satisfied their identification requirements.
Other examples here illustrate that the identity requiremens are
rather low across a range of mobile telephone companies.
If I were the OP, I'd be complaining to Ofcom by now. Partly the
purpose of that is to put more pressure on the company rather than
necessarily having a watertight complaint. If they are going to have
to do work dealing with Ofcom the OP may well find that they take his
issue rather more seriously.
Mark
The password does not work for this. There is no facility for
requesting a PAC code via the web site.
Mark
TBH I am not prepared to return to the shop. It's not close to where
I live and I have no more spare time to waste.
Mark
I agree with this, but this is not what is actually happening. They
seem unable to accept /any/ real proof (the original purchase receipt)
that I am the account holder, yet they suggest giving fake details to
register the account!!!
Mark
<the_con...@freeukisp.co.uk> wrote:
I think it's really an attempt to get more money from you. They
claimed they would have given the PAC code if I could tell them when I
last topped-up (initial top-up does not count). However I had never
topped up because I always indended to move as soon as the credit ran
out.
I can't see how topping up (especially with cash) has anything to do
with proving who you are.
alan.holmes
Showing my ignorance again, what is a 'PAC' code?
Alan
>
>
steve robinson
Its the code that allows network providers to tranfer numbers between
each other simply put
the Omrud
> alan.holmes wrote:
>
>> Showing my ignorance again, what is a 'PAC' code?
>
> each other simply put
Equivalent to the MAC code which you need to switch your ADSL supplier.
--
David
S.P.
> "Mark" <i...@dontgetlotsofspamanymore.net> wrote in message
> news:ieq1f6hfsktdvf72f...@4ax.com...
>> Surely there is no law prevents them giving me a PAC code in this
>> situation? Isn't encouraging me to give fake details a bit dodgy
>> too?
>
> Showing my ignorance again, what is a 'PAC' code?
<mode=pedant>
Technically, there is no such thing as a PAC Code.
It is either a PAC, or a Porting Authorisation Code.
A PAC Code would be a Porting Authorisation Code Code[1].
</mode>
A PAC, as the name suggests, allows one to port a mobile telephone number
between providers, so one can move to a different network, but still keep
the same number.
Once issued, the PAC is valid for 30 days (after which it expires and a new
one will need to be generated) and the porting process can take anything
between a few hours and several days.
Regards
S.P.
[1] I know people do the same with PIN when they refer to a PIN Number and,
for the avoidance of doubt, I find that equally frustrating too.
Roland Perry
Mon, 29 Nov 2010, S.P. <inv...@invalid.invalid> remarked:
>A PAC Code would be a Porting Authorisation Code Code[1].
...
>[1] I know people do the same with PIN when they refer to a PIN Number and,
>for the avoidance of doubt, I find that equally frustrating too.
And ATM machines. The inventor must be turning in his grave when the BBC
perpetrated this in his Obituary:
"Mr Shepherd-Barron came up with the idea for a cash machine
while in the bath. The first ATM machine was installed at a bank
in London in 1967."
Other redundant expressions include "ASDL line" and "GSM mobile";
although some are required because of company Law: "ICL Ltd".
--
Roland Perry
Martin Bonner
> In message <4cf376a4$0$2510$db0fe...@news.zen.co.uk>, at 09:50:06 on
> Mon, 29 Nov 2010, S.P. <inva...@invalid.invalid> remarked:
>
>
>
> >A PAC Code would be a Porting Authorisation Code Code[1].
> ...
> >[1] I know people do the same with PIN when they refer to a PIN Number and,
> >for the avoidance of doubt, I find that equally frustrating too.
>
> And ATM machines. The inventor must be turning in his grave when the BBC
> perpetrated this in his Obituary:
>
> "Mr Shepherd-Barron came up with the idea for a cash machine
> while in the bath. The first ATM machine was installed at a bank
> in London in 1967."
>
> Other redundant expressions include "ASDL line" and "GSM mobile";
> although some are required because of company Law: "ICL Ltd".
for "Imperial Computers Limited", it is just three letters that the
company chose as its name.
Roland Perry
<5d1ffa4d-3b5c-4ca3...@k5g2000vbn.googlegroups.com>, at
13:55:04 on Mon, 29 Nov 2010, Martin Bonner <martin...@yahoo.co.uk>
remarked:
>> although some are required because of company Law: "ICL Ltd".
>Technically that last is not redundant. ICL does /not/ (now) stand
>for "Imperial Computers Limited", it is just three letters that the
>company chose as its name.
It was International Computers, and if it's the same as the dormant
company 02591030, was previously known as "ICL Computers Ltd"
--
Roland Perry
Stuart A. Bronstein
> Other redundant expressions include "ASDL line" and "GSM mobile";
> although some are required because of company Law: "ICL Ltd".
A different context, but one that I find amusing (and have seen more
than once) is "soup du jour of the day."
Tim Jackson
>
> A different context, but one that I find amusing (and have seen more
> than once) is "soup du jour of the day."
I once asked the waitress in an American restaurant for French mustard
(instead of the American mustard she was offering me). "Oh no," she
said, with a puzzled look. "We haven't got anything like that. But
we've got Dijon if you like."
alan.holmes
"alan.holmes" <alan.h...@somewhere.net> wrote in message
news:zYwIo.235367$tb2.1...@newsfe06.ams2...
Is no one going to tell me?
>
> Alan
>
>
>>
>>
>
>
Geoff Berrow
<alan.h...@somewhere.net> wrote:
>> Showing my ignorance again, what is a 'PAC' code?
>
>Is no one going to tell me?
Roland Perry
Nov 2010, alan.holmes <alan.h...@somewhere.net> remarked:
>> Showing my ignorance again, what is a 'PAC' code?
>
>Is no one going to tell me?
I would suggest that the answer given by S.P. at 09:50 this morning
qualifies.
--
Roland Perry
m...@privacy.net
"the_constructor" <the_con...@freeukisp.co.uk> wrote:
> I had a mobile phone given to me. I acquired a SIM Card for O2 and used it
> for quite some time, then I wanted to transfer the number to Tesco. I rang
> the customer services of O2 and they immediately gave me the PAC code. I
> then rang Tesco Mobile and gave them the number and within a week my number
> was transferred to new provider.
>
> I didn't have to register with O2 or Tesco....
>
Tesco is effectively a reseller of O2. They use the same network. I also
changed effortlessly.
--
BD
Change lycos to yahoo to reply
sid
I saw a sign recently in southern Ireland at roadworks saying "HGV
Vehicles this lane"....
Mark
<ne...@timjackson.invalid> wrote:
>On Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:31:15 +0000, Stuart A. Bronstein wrote...
>>
>> A different context, but one that I find amusing (and have seen more
>> than once) is "soup du jour of the day."
>
>I once asked the waitress in an American restaurant for French mustard
>(instead of the American mustard she was offering me). "Oh no," she
>said, with a puzzled look. "We haven't got anything like that. But
>we've got Dijon if you like."
But French mustard is quite different from Dijon mustard, the latter
actually being similar to English mustard.
--
(\__/) M.
(='.'=) Due to the amount of spam posted via googlegroups and
(")_(") their inaction to the problem. I am blocking some articles
posted from there. If you wish your postings to be seen by
everyone you will need use a different method of posting.
John Briggs
>
> I saw a sign recently in southern Ireland at roadworks saying "HGV
> Vehicles this lane"....
Southern Ireland, an entity constituted by the Government of Ireland Act
1920, only existed between 3 May 1921 and 6 December 1922. Like its
successors, the Irish Free State and Ireland (usually called the
Republic of Ireland) it included County Donegal, the northernmost county
of the island of Ireland! The legal name of the state would appear to be
"Ireland" in Ireland (Republic of Ireland Act 1948) and "Republic of
Ireland" in the UK (Ireland Act 1949). Previously, the legal name in the
UK was "Éire" (Eire [Confirmation of Agreements] Act 1938), which in
Ireland is only the name of the state in the Irish language.
If you just say "The Irish Republic" everyone knows where you are
talking about...
--
John Briggs
Adrian
I think most people got it anyway... "The bit of Ireland that isn't
Northern".
'course, it might have been somewhere around Cork...
Scion
>
> I think it's really an attempt to get more money from you. They
> claimed they would have given the PAC code if I could tell them when I
> last topped-up (initial top-up does not count). However I had never
> topped up because I always indended to move as soon as the credit ran
> out.
>
> I can't see how topping up (especially with cash) has anything to do
> with proving who you are.
I would have thought that saying you had never topped up would be as good as
giving the last top-up date.
sid
If you live in the north, you call it the south.
Of course the various political parties use different terms, but calling
it the south up here is a politically neutral term.
Christopher Bowlas
wrote:
> Roland Perry <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote:
> > Other redundant expressions include "ASDL line" and "GSM mobile";
> > although some are required because of company Law: "ICL Ltd".
>
> A different context, but one that I find amusing (and have seen more
> than once) is "soup du jour of the day."
Does one ever receive the explanation that the flavor (sic) is "du
jour"?
Stuart A. Bronstein
Not that I've noticed. I've also seen "with au jus sauce." I guess
that could be called redundant, superfluous, extraneous and
supererogatory.
Mark
I would agree. They do not.
Anyway I used their suggestion of registering using fake details and I
got the PAC code! So much for security.