How to get a Three PAC code
A Three PAC code lets you move your mobile number to another UK network. Three does not issue the code through a comparison site or third-party app — you request it directly from Three by text message.
From the Three phone you want to leave, send PAC to 65075. Three should reply by SMS with your PAC code and the date it expires. Give that code to your new provider when you sign up or order a SIM. They use it to port your number on the switch date you agree with them.
If you are unsure of the exact wording, use our PAC & STAC code generator for step-by-step instructions.
A PAC is valid for 30 days. If it expires before you complete the switch, text PAC to 65075 again from your Three handset to request a fresh code.
How to cancel a Three contract
To cancel a Three contract and keep your number, the practical route is almost always to port out rather than simply stopping payment.
- Request a PAC by texting PAC to 65075 from your Three phone.
- Choose a new SIM only deal from another network.
- Give your PAC to the new provider when you join.
- Wait for the port to complete on the agreed switch date — your Three line then ends automatically.
If you do not need to keep your number, text STAC to 75075 instead. Three sends a Service Termination Authorisation Code. Give that to your new provider if they ask for it, or use it to confirm you want the line closed without porting.
Check your final bill after the switch. Any outstanding balance, add-ons, or device charges may still be due even after the number has moved.
Three cancellation number and how to contact Three
If you need to speak to Three before you leave, the quickest route from a Three mobile is to call 333. That is the main Three cancellation number for account queries, billing, and contract questions.
You can also use Three’s online support at three.co.uk/support or the Three app to view your contract end date, check any remaining minimum term, and manage your account.
Calling Three can help if:
- your PAC text to 65075 does not arrive within a reasonable time
- you need to confirm an early exit charge on a handset or device plan
- you want written confirmation of your contract end date
For number porting itself, you still need the PAC or STAC by SMS — a phone call alone does not replace that step.
Cancelling Three online and in writing
Three does not offer a single “cancel my contract now” button that replaces the PAC/STAC process for mobile customers who want to switch networks.
You can manage much of your account online, but leaving Three and keeping your number still starts with texting PAC to 65075. If you want a paper trail — for example, you are disputing a charge or confirming notice — use our cancellation letter generator to produce a formal letter or email you can send to Three alongside the port.
Keep copies of any letters, live-chat transcripts, or call reference numbers. They are useful if there is a delay with your final bill or an unexpected charge after you leave.
Early termination fees when you cancel Three early
If you are still inside a minimum contract term, Three may charge an early exit fee to cancel Three before the agreed end date. This most often applies to:
- pay-monthly plans tied to a minimum term
- phone-and-SIM contracts where you paid for the handset in instalments
- certain promotional plans with a fixed commitment period
The fee depends on how many months are left and the type of plan you hold. Three can confirm the exact figure when you call 333 or check your account online.
If you want a rough idea of what leaving early could cost before you commit to switching, use our early termination fee calculator. It gives a ballpark estimate only — Three’s own calculation is the one that appears on your bill.
Once your minimum term has ended, you can usually leave without an early exit fee, though you must still give notice and complete the PAC or STAC process.
Notice period when leaving Three
Three typically requires 30 days’ notice when you end a pay-monthly mobile contract. In practice, when you port your number using a PAC, the switch date agreed with your new network usually satisfies this notice period.
If you are on a rolling monthly SIM only plan with no minimum term, you can often leave with less friction — but you should still request a PAC or STAC and clear any outstanding balance.
Do not cancel your Direct Debit before the port has finished and you have checked your final Three bill. Stopping payment early can lead to debt collection activity even after your number has moved.
How to switch from Three to another network
Most people who cancel Three are switching to a cheaper or more flexible SIM only plan elsewhere. The process is the same whether you move to EE, O2, Vodafone, or a smaller provider.
- Compare SIM only deals and pick your new plan.
- Text PAC to 65075 from your Three phone.
- Order the new SIM and give the PAC to that provider.
- On the switch date, your number transfers and your Three service ends.
If you are considering specific networks, you can compare deals on our EE phone deals, O2 phone deals, and Vodafone phone deals pages before you request your PAC.
For flexible rolling contracts, see 30-day SIM only deals. For the lowest monthly cost, browse cheapest SIM only deals.
Leaving Three Pay Monthly, SIM only, and handset plans
Three Pay Monthly plans with a handset often run for 12 or 24 months. If you leave early, you may need to repay the remaining cost of the phone as well as any early exit charge on the airtime plan. Check your agreement in the Three app or by calling 333 before you port.
Three SIM only plans may be on a fixed term or rolling monthly basis. Fixed-term SIM only contracts can still carry an early exit fee if you leave before the end date. Rolling plans are usually simpler: request your PAC, switch, and settle the final bill.
If you are currently on Three and want to stay on the same network but pay less, compare Three SIM only deals or cheapest Three SIM only deals before you decide to leave entirely.
Three and Smarty: do not mix up the cancellation process
Smarty is a separate mobile brand that uses the Three network. If you have a Smarty SIM, you cancel Smarty — not Three directly. The PAC still goes to 65075, but your account is with Smarty. See our guide on how to cancel Smarty if that is your provider.
If your SIM says Three and your bills come from Three, this page is the right one.
What happens after you cancel Three
Once your number has ported:
- your Three SIM stops working on the switch date
- you should receive a final bill covering any usage up to that point
- any Direct Debit should be cancelled by Three after the account closes, but check your bank statement
- if you had a handset on credit, confirm whether any separate device agreement is fully settled
If you cancelled a line without porting (using STAC or after contract expiry), destroy or recycle the old SIM and keep your final bill for your records.
Compare deals before you cancel Three
Searching how to cancel Three usually means you have already decided to leave. Before you text PAC to 65075, it is worth lining up your next plan so the code does not expire unused.
Browse SIM only deals across all networks, or use our cancel and switch hub for guides to leaving other providers if you are helping someone else switch at the same time.
If you are staying within Three but changing plan type, look at Three 30-day SIM only deals, Three 12-month SIM only deals, or Three unlimited data SIM only deals to see whether a better in-network deal suits you before you port away.
