Converting a contract mobile phone to pay as you go?

[Anushka]

I'm sure this is very simple but don't know where to start! My boss has let me have his old 3 Mobile phone which was on a contract for my daughter (note to self make sure all old pictures are taken off first). Where do I start, do I have to go to a very scary looking shop with "We will unlock your phone" signs or can I just go to normal high street shop. Can I switch it to a different provider?

You have to have it unlocked to switch provider, but if you're happy to stick with 3 then you just need to get a new sim card, and register it to the phone.

I don't know if it is still the case but the pay as you go system on 3 meant that you lost any unused credit with them at the end of the month, so it may be better to unlock it.

Thanks, can I get a new sim from a 3 shop?

I will check out unused credit details on website as this might prove a waste - dd meant to be only using it for EMERGENCIES ! so shouldn't get through that much each month.

Yes, a 3 shop will sell just a sim (might be able to do it online), or somewhere like the carphone warehouse.

not sure about 3 mobiles but other contract ones are mostly unlocked so if you have a sim try it see if it works