Can I Switch Mobile Phone Providers

If you want to get a better deal on your mobile phone or are looking for a new handset, you might be wondering if it is possible to switch mobile phone providers. The good news is that as long as you are not tied into a contract, you can easily switch providers within a couple of days and even keep your old number using the PAC code. All you need to do is get your PAC code from your old network and give this to your new network which will port your number over to your new SIM card.

When switching mobile phone providers, another consideration to make if you are keeping the same handset is whether or not your handset is locked to a different network. If your handset is locked, it will not work with a SIM card from your new network, and you will need to use the PUK code to unlock this. It is a fairly simple process that you can do with the help of your network provider.

If you are currently tied into a mobile phone contract, switching networks can be trickier. This is because a smartphone contract is a financial commitment that you have agreed to pay until the contract term is up. Even if you switch to a different network, you will need to continue making payments on your smartphone contract in order to avoid damage to your credit score. If you are nearing the end of your smartphone contract, you may be able to get a discount if you repay the remainder of the contract in one payment; this might be worth speaking to your network provider about if you are considering ending your contract and switching to another network. Otherwise, it makes more financial sense to wait until the minimum term of your contract has ended before switching to a different provider.