Mobile Network Comparison

Ofcom is investigating claims that Scotsphone has refused to provide PAC codes to a business customer. The Edinburgh operator uses Vodafone’s infrastructure and is reported to have prevented a user moving thirteen account away from the virtual network by refusing to give out PAC codes. Ofcom regulations decree that operators must provide PAC codes on demand.

Scotsphone is a Scottish business provider which deals with public and private sector contract using Vodafone, Orange and O₂. It also sells business landline deals. The initial reports suggest that Scotsphone was reluctant to provide the PAC code due to an outstanding £500 bill. However, Ofcom regulations are clear that this is not a valid reason to deny a customer their PAC code. Scotsphone has admitted that there is an ongoing Ofcom investigation about this issue.

The dispute is said to stem from contested data charges. The customer, who doesn’t want to be identified, is refusing to pay the bill and, in turn, Scotsphone have not provided the PAC code that allows them to change network. Whoever’s in the right about the bill, Ofcom regulations about changing networks are clear. An unpaid bill is never justification for not handing over a PAC code.

It is claimed that the PAC codes were requested for 13 numbers multiple times but they were consistently denied. After that, the matter was referred to Ofcom. The official line is that PAC codes must be handed over “in the shortest possible time” – even allowing a reasonable amount of time, this is still generally considered to be immediately on a phone call. If the PAC is sent by SMS on email the time limit is two hours on a working day.

Feel free to browse our site for more about how to get your PAC code and change mobile network.

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T-Mobile have changed the terms of their Full Monty tariff so you are no longer allowed to tether. T-Mobile won a lot of acclaim when they introduced their ground-breaking The Full Monty tariff. At the time, we praised this monthly plan that gave customers “unlimited everything” including tethering-enabled mobile internet. Now, less than a year later and after signing up countless customers to expensive 24 month contracts, T-Mobile have infuriated their users by changing the terms of the tariff. From 8 August, new customers will no longer be allowed to tether on T-Mobile’s The Full Monty. There are also strict fair usage policies on streaming and “downloads”.

What is tethering?

Tethering means using your phone’s mobile data capability to provide internet access to other devices such as tablets (like the iPad), games consoles, laptops, PCs and other mobile phones. It includes physically connecting your computer to your phone to share the connection with a cable or using it as a mobile hotspot. Other things that count as tethering include putting the SIM in a non-phone device like a tablet computer, e-reader, MiFi mobile router or in a mobile internet dongle plugged into a computer.

Many people find tethering useful when on the move. For example, you can connect your laptop to the internet to work on a train while your phone is still in your pocked. And many people are using mobile broadband plans to replace their home internet if they can get decent speeds at home. It’s very easy to buy a cheap Android handset for about £30 and put in a tethering-enabled data SIM to have a portable mobile broadband connection in your house as well as wherever you may go.

Why has it been removed?

The obvious reason is because T-Mobile aren’t making enough money out of it. This could be because they want to maximise their profits even more or because they miscalculated how much data people would use on this plan.

By removing the ability to tether, they are guaranteed to cut down the amount of mobile internet people use by a huge proportion. When tethering to computers or tablets, people are more likely to engage in high-bandwidth activities like video streaming and large file downloads such as apps, films and games. While it’s possible to use as much data on a phone as on a computer or tablet, it’s highly atypical.

Another reason is that T-Mobile have introduced newer, cheaper versions under The Fully Monty branding. The price has been slashed and you no longer need to be locked in for a lengthy 24 month contract either. T-Mobile now have a 12 month SIM-only plan that costs only £21/month. While this offers great value for money, it might mean that it’s no longer feasible to offer tethering too.

Either way, T-Mobile can argue that they are being forced into this position to prevent the masses having to subsidise a small number of extremely high-volume data users. They may well claim that this is the only way to ensure the continuity of flagship The Fully Monty tariff.

What other options are there?

Well, first of all, the good news is that existing customers won’t be affected. If you signed up before 8 August, you’ll still get tethering on your Full Monty plan. Only new T-Mobile customers will be restricted.

At the moment, there’s only one mobile network left that offering unlimited data with tethering enabled and that’s Three. Their incredible-value One Plan gives you pretty much as good a deal as T-Mobile. For £25/month you get 5000 Three-to-Three minutes, 2000 UK minutes, 5000 texts and unlimited mobile internet. Not bad, eh? It gets better – not only do you get unlimited data and you’re allowed to tether as much as you want, it’s a rolling 1 month SIM-only plan so you’re not even locked in at all. If this sound better than the new T-Mobile Full Monty tariff, it’s really easy to switch networks.

So, has T-Mobile’s Full Monty tariff been revealed to be the Emperor’s New Clothes? Can you now see through the transparent marketing trickery to the naked truth? Or do you think it’s not commercially viable to offer unlimited data with tethering at these prices? Please let us know.

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EE, the network bringing 4G LTE to the UK and the parent company of Orange and T-Mobile, have been shown to be avoiding untold billions in tax. They join Vodafone and LycaMobile amongst the shamed ranks of companies avoiding their tax liabilities.

EE’s latest accounts show that it has not paid anything at all in corporation tax in the UK. It is thought that the company is manipulating accounts so it technically makes a loss in the UK and can avoid paying taxes. This is despite the company spending millions for the spectrum required to provide 4G services and annual sales of £6.8 billion in 2011. Vodafone have been reported to be dodging £6 billion of UK taxes but it’s not clear exactly how much EE should be paying.

The revelations come as the debate about mega corporations failing to pay tax in the UK hits a peak. Activist group UK Uncut points out that people are told they must pay their taxes and that there’s no alternative to the ideological cuts to public services. Corporate tax dodging is thought to cost the state almost £100 billion per year yet, thanks to the Coalition’s crippling cuts and normal people are suffering while HMRC allows companies like EE and Vodafone to avoid paying taxes.

EE may legally be allowed to make use of this loophole while it lasts, but the British public are getting impatient will morally dubious tactics like this.

What’s your take? What do you think of EE not paying any corporation tax? Are they greedy thieves or smart? Do mobile companies have a social obligation to pay a fair rate of tax? And do you think the government should do more about it?

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