Cancel your Three contract: early cancellation fees and other options

The Three cancel contract process is pretty straightforward. This article will help you understand the contract cancellation process, possible fees, what to do before cancelling your Three contract and more.

How to cancel your Three contract?

Suppose you want to end your Three contract without starting another. This could happen if you're moving to another country, getting a new business phone, or deciding not to use a mobile phone.

If that's the case, you must call Three (dial 333 from your Three phone) and inform them that you want to cancel your contract. Three will cancel your number and stop billing you if you don't give them 30 days' notice. Of course, if your contract's minimum term has yet to expire, Three will charge a cancellation fee.

If you plan to leave three for another network provider, here is how to do it.

Changing or retaining your number - stac and pac

Before proceeding, you must first decide whether you want to keep your current Three number when you move to your new network. Depending on your answer to this question, you'll need a different type of code from Three.

If you're willing to switch numbers but want the transition to your new contract to be as smooth as possible, you'll need to obtain a STAC (Service Termination Authorisation Code) from Three and give it to your new provider. Your STAC will be a 9-character code comprised of six numbers followed by three capital letters.

If you want to keep your phone number, you'll need to obtain a PAC (Port Authorisation Code) from Three and provide it to your new provider. Your PAC will be a 9-character code consisting of three capital letters followed by six numbers.

How to obtain your stac if you are moving without your number

You can get your STAC by logging into your My3 account, filling out the 'Leave Three without taking my number' form, or chatting with Three. The quickest and simplest method is to text STAC and your date of birth (in the format DDMMYY) to 75075.

You can also call Three (dial 333 from your Three phone) and speak with an advisor about leaving. Contact your new provider and provide them with this STAC number (valid only for 30 days), and they will help you transition to your new contract.

Taking your number along - how to get your pac

You can get your PAC by logging into your My3 account, filling out the 'Leave Three and keep my number' form or chatting with Three.

However, texting PAC and your date of birth (DDMMYY) to 65075 is the quickest and easiest way. Another option is to call Three (dial 333 from your Three phone) and speak with a representative about leaving the network (currently option 3 on the menu).

All that remains is to contact your new provider and provide them with your PAC (which is only valid for 30 days), and they will arrange for the transfer of your existing number to your new contract.

Cancel Three contract: possible fees

If you are still within the minimum term of your contract with Three, you will be required to pay an 'early termination charge' (ETC) or 'early exit fee.' The ETC effectively pays off the rest of your contract.

On Three, you'll pay an early termination fee equal to the remaining monthly charges for the contract's minimum term minus a variable discount of 3%. This is explained in detail on page 25 of Three's Pay Monthly price guide.

Text INFO followed by your date of birth in DDMMYY format to 85075 to find out the early termination charge that applies to your contract. An early exit fee will apply regardless of your cancellation process.

What to do before cancelling your Three contract

The standard cancellation procedure requires you to call Three and inform them that you wish to terminate your contract. A 30-day notice period will apply, during which you must continue paying your regular monthly line rental.

Because the standard cancellation process is much more complicated (including a phone call to Three customer service) and requires you to give 30 days' notice, we always recommend using the PAC Code or STAC Code process to cancel your contract. You can request a free Pay As You Go SIM card from any mobile network (and then follow the PAC Code or STAC Code process).

What to do instead of cancelling your Three contract

If you're still within the minimum term of your Three contract, there may be alternatives to cancelling it. These include:

1. Upgrading or Downgrading your Three plan: This is a great idea if your problem with Three is cost-related.
2. Speaking to Three customer care: If your reason for cancelling is network related or you want a better deal, contact Three's customer care team and talk to them about the network signal in your area. They will do their best to fix the network problem. They may also offer a better deal to keep you from cancelling your contract.