Table of Contents
Switching Information
As part of Ofcom’s regulation, subscribers should be able to switch mobile phone provider without needing to contact the provider (text to switch), with or without keeping their number.
The subscriber can also retrieve the costs associated from leaving their current provider, in or outside of a switch. This information should be provided by the channel of request, but also by SMS to the subscriber.
This switching information is provided alongside the PAC (text “PAC” to 65075) or STAC (text “STAC” to 75075, or outright if the switching information only is requested (text “INFO” to 85075).
Source:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/switching-provider/switching-mobile-phone-provider
Transatel will not only manage the porting process from A-Z, but it will also provide the switching information when required.
Attention, in order for Transatel to provide switching information, we need MVNO inputs!
1. Transatel calculated
Transatel allows you to enter the contract information required to calculate switching costs:
– Via Auriga (click here)
– Via API (click here)
2. MVNO provided (Sw-API)
The MVNO can concatenate and provide the exact text that they wish to display for the Switching Information. They most expose this information via an API which is consumed by Transatel in the case of a switching event.
For the specification, click here.
3. Static
Is some cases (for example where it is a B2B account, and fees are managed on an account level for several SIMs), it may not be pertinent to provide switching information. In which case, Transatel can place a static text, i.e. prompting the business user to contact their account manager.
What does the subscriber receive?
Transatel computed
By default, no switching info provided. If no switching information is provided, the SMS received will be the following (alongside the PAC/STAC code if relevant):
Dear customer, there will be no early termination fees if you decide to change providers. For more information, please visit https://switch-portal.co.uk/
This is the default message if no switching info is added so make sure your Switching Information is up to date!
If the Switching information is provided, the following SMS will be one of the following, depending on the fee information that has been pre-provided to Transatel:
Dear customer, your current contract ends on [date]. If you decide to change providers before this date, there will be a termination fee of [£x] for each remaining month in your contract (up to [£x]). More info on https://switch-portal.co.uk/
Dear customer, your current contract ends on [date]. If you decide to change providers before this date, there will be a termination fee of [£x] for each remaining month in your contract (up to [£x]). Your handset contract ends on [date]. If you decide to change providers, there will be a termination fee [£x] for each remaining month in your handset contract. More info on https://switch-portal.co.uk/
Dear customer, if you request to change providers, there will be a fixed termination fee of [£x].For more information, please visit https://switch-portal.co.uk/
Sw-API
The text will display exactly how the MVNO outputs via Sw-API.
Static
The MVNO can choose between the following two standard messages to be configured on their MVNO account
Thanks for your request. As this is a business account, the registered owner will need to contact the Service Provider for the PAC code and switching information relating to this number.
Dear customer, for information on costs incurred when changing providers, please contact customer services.
Disclaimer
This article does not constitute as legal advice. Transatel makes this information and these methods available to the MVNO, it is up to the MVNO to ensure compliancy, to apply the correct types and/or methods of switching fees provisions according to their commercial relationship with their customer and make their own decisions on how to comply with Ofcom regulation.
