A viewer of the Martin Lewis Money Show Live has revealed how a simple three-letter text message prompted their mobile provider to call within ten minutes and slash their monthly bill by more than half. The dramatic cost-cutting move came after following advice from the consumer champion on his ITV programme.
The power of a three-letter code
During last week's broadcast, Mr Lewis outlined practical steps for mobile phone users to ensure they aren't paying over the odds for their services. One key recommendation involved texting the word 'PAC' to 65075 once a decision has been made to leave a current provider.
This straightforward action triggered an almost immediate positive outcome for viewer Mick, who shared his experience on the show. "I just asked for my PAC code - within 10 minutes I got a phone call from them and my bill dropped from £31.50 to £14," he explained. "I could have gone lower but kept EU roaming on. Also still had 3 months of contract left. Win win."
Substantial annual savings
Martin Lewis highlighted the significant financial impact of this reduction, calculating it as approximately £200 in yearly savings. "If you watch back last week I went through three steps some people getting their bill down to £3," he noted. "The key to that one though is literally all he did is text PAC to 65075 which is the way of getting the code you need to leave and because they thought he was leaving they gave him a much cheaper deal. A good shortcut."
Millions potentially overpaying
The personal finance expert emphasised that this advice comes against a backdrop where millions of UK consumers remain locked into expensive tariffs despite their contracts no longer being legally binding. He revealed that approximately 14 million people across the country are currently overpaying for mobile services, frequently for agreements that originally included a new device.
These individuals could potentially save hundreds of pounds annually by taking proactive steps to review their arrangements. The PAC text strategy formed just one part of a three-step approach Mr Lewis recommended for mobile customers seeking to reduce their expenses.
Checking contract status
Viewers were first instructed to verify their contract situation by texting 'INFO' free of charge to 85075. Should the response indicate 'Early Termination' or 'Cancellation Charge' displaying £0, this confirms the contract has expired. In such cases, the MoneySavingExpert founder advised visiting "a cheap SIM comparison site", where various providers frequently offer identical SIM packages for substantially lower prices.
"If you're on a multiple-phone contract, you won't be able to do this," he clarified, noting an important limitation for those with bundled family arrangements.
Market changes creating opportunities
Mr Lewis highlighted how market dynamics have shifted dramatically in consumers' favour. "Prices have been going up and up. At the same time the cost of new customer SIM deals have been plummeting," he observed. "For 50gb two years ago you'd have been paying £9. Now you can get it as cheap as about £3 a month."
Finding the best deals
The consumer expert explained that the most competitive offers are typically not available directly from major mobile operators. "Most of the deals are not available direct from the mobile phone companies because then they might have to give them to existing customers and are only on comparison sites and they tend to be short-lived," he said.
For those concerned about maintaining signal quality when switching, Mr Lewis offered reassuring guidance. "There are only four mobile networks in the UK. Every other one is piggybacking off one of those four. So you want to do a comparison that says, What's the cheapest deal on the signal that I currently have?"
He specifically mentioned that visitors to the MoneySavingExpert website can use their "cheap mobile finder" tool to conduct precisely this type of search and identify available options.
Taking action before price increases
Mr Lewis concluded with an urgent recommendation for mobile users. "My main message. Do that text, see if you're out of contract and check before prices go up. Whether you can save a shed load by switching hope that helps."
The PAC code strategy demonstrates how a simple, free text message can trigger substantial bill reductions when providers realise customers are considering leaving. With millions potentially overpaying for mobile services, this approach offers a practical starting point for consumers seeking to reduce their telecommunications expenses.
