Changing Mobile Phone or Switching Mobile Tariff

Are you getting a new mobile phone or switching network? Ken’s Tech Tips guides you through the process.

1. Which network and which tariff?
First things, first. Which network do you want to join and which tariff? Have you checked the coverage for your area? Do you want to sign a contract or simply pay as you go?

As a rule of thumb, if you use more than 150 minutes per month, you’ll be better off with a contract.

If you sign a contract, “SIM only” contracts offer fantastic value if you don’t want a new mobile phone.

For Pay As You Go customers, there are a whole wealth of tariffs which offer you loads of “freebies” (such as calls, texts and internet access). These free allowances are subject to you topping up but can often be even more generous than the allowances included with contracts.

If you want the Apple iPhone, check out our price comparison of the iPhone on different networks. We have also taken an in-depth look at the iPhone on Tesco Mobile.
2. Do you need a new phone?
Do you plan on buying a new phone or do you want to keep the same one?

If you are changing network: check our guide on how to find out if your phone is locked. If you’re changing network and your phone is locked then you’ll either need to unlock it or buy a new phone.

If you are joining the 3 network, you will need a new phone if your current phone isn’t 3G.
3. Transfer your phone number
Once you’ve selected a network and tariff, you’ll want to take your old phone number with you.

If you are staying on the same network as before, call up the customer services of your network and ask them to transfer your existing phone number to your new tariff.

If you are switching network then you will want to request a PAC Code from your old network and then give this code to your new network. It will take up to two days for your number to be transferred but it means that family and friends can contact you at the same number as before.
4. Recycle your old mobile phone
If you’ve got a new mobile phone, do the green thing and recycle your old one!

You can either pass your old mobile phone to a friend, sell it second-hand on eBay or give it to a mobile phone recycling company.