A MAJOR mobile phone provider is shutting down within days, and any customers still on the network need to move quickly.
Plusnet, part of the BT Group, is closing its mobile branch permanently in June.
The provider is making the move to allow EE, which is also part of the group, to take over its main mobile brand.
All Plusnet SIM cards will stop working once you receive your final bill from this month.
You’ll need to switch to make sure you can still make calls, receive texts, browse the web, and keep your number.
If you don’t, you’ll lose your connection for good.
This means Plusnet said you have 40 days from the date you receive your final bill to make the move.
So even if you received your final bill at the beginning of the month, you still have time to switch to another SIM card.
If you are a Plusnet customer, you can switch to another network free of charge and it doesn’t matter if you are mid-contract.
A Plusnet spokesperson previously said: “We will be contacting customers from May 2023 to inform them that our Plusnet mobile service is ending.
“We have now confirmed that this will be closed to customers during June 2024.”
Plusnet customers are offered exclusive EE deals to switch to.
But remember, you should only go for a deal because it’s good value for money.
You can use comparison sites such as MoneySupermarket and Uswitch to find the best deals on the market.
They also allow you to perform advanced searches based on price, data, calls and texts.
It comes after Plusnet confirmed it will end another service by the end of next year.
How does text-to-text switching work?
TEXT-to-switch makes it quicker and easier to leave your mobile company by giving you control over how much contact you have with your existing provider.
It works like this:
Text “PAC” to 65075 – and keep your mobile number
- Text “PAC” to 65075 to start the process
- The existing provider will send an SMS within a minute and send a PAC number which will be valid for 30 days
- The provider’s response must also include information about early termination fees or ongoing balances
- The customer will then transfer the PAC number to their new provider
- The new provider must ensure that the transition is completed within one working day
Text “STAC” to 75075 – and get a new mobile number
- Most people want to keep their number when they switch, but one in six don’t
- Text ‘STAC’ to 75075 to get a termination authorization code
- The rest of the process is the same as above
Text “INFO” to 85075 – and find out more
- If you’re not sure if you’ll have to pay early termination fees, text “INFO” to 85075
- You will only receive this information
The telecoms firm has told The Sun that it will no longer offer home phone services to existing customers by the end of December 2025.
How to reduce mobile phone costs
Changing your mobile phone contract is one of the easiest ways to reduce the cost of what you pay.
However, if you have a contract with your provider halfway through, you may have to pay an early exit fee to switch.
It’s usually best to wait until just before the end of your contract before switching providers.
Most of the time, the best deals are offered to new customers as businesses try to win new business.
So use a price comparison site to find the best deal to suit your needs and then use it to negotiate your current business.
If they refuse to offer you a better price for a similar deal, you can always ditch it and go with a new provider.
Maybe your old company will call you and offer you a better deal at the last minute.
If you’re not comfortable arguing with your company over the phone, you can always try talking to them via the web chat feature.
Either way, make sure you’re polite to whoever you end up talking to because they’re just doing their job.
You can also save on your mobile phone and broadband contracts by signing up to a social plan.
They are available to people on certain benefits including Universal Credit and are usually much cheaper than standard offers.
Ofcom, the regulator, has a current list of broadband and phone social tariffs available on its website.
Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Contact us by email at money-sm@news.co.uk.
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