Advisory note AN-19
Terms explained
The vocabulary used across this advisory, in plain words, grouped by where each term turns up.
Independent status. fernwick is an independent guidance and information service. We are not a mobile network. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, appointed by or connected to Three, EE, O2, Vodafone, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile or any other provider, and we hold no commercial arrangement with any of them. We do not sell, supply, arrange or broker SIM cards, contracts, handsets or services of any kind, and we take no commission. Everything published here is general information and must not be relied upon in place of the provider's own current terms.
Our position in one line
About twenty terms carry the whole of the small print — and most of them are plainer than they sound.
§1Moving between providers
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| PAC | The free code, texted to 65075, that carries your number to a new provider within thirty days |
| STAC | The same idea (75075) where you would rather drop the number and start fresh |
| Porting | The behind-the-scenes transfer a code sets off, usually done within one working day |
| Final response | Your provider's formal end of a complaint — and your immediate ticket to the ombudsman |
If any of this is unclear
Telephone the advisory and we will talk it through. There is nothing to buy at any point.
020 3896 5248This line is for guidance and information only. We sell nothing, arrange nothing and act for no provider. If anything on this page is unclear, telephone and we will explain it.
§2Signal and calling
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| 4G Calling (VoLTE) | Voice carried over 4G. Needed since 3G closed on every UK network |
| Wi-Fi Calling | Calls and texts over your home broadband — the free fix for a bad room |
| Standalone 5G | 5G on its own modern core rather than leaning on 4G. Quicker where live; smallest layer |
| Congestion | Too many handsets on one mast. Full bars, no throughput — and not a coverage problem |
§3Money and small print
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Fair-use ceiling | The published limit hiding inside an 'unlimited' allowance, mainly abroad |
| Tethering | Sharing your handset's data with a laptop. Capped on some plan generations |
| Split contract | Handset credit and airtime billed separately, so device payments stop at repayment |
| Spend cap | A free limit you set yourself to prevent charges beyond the allowance |
| MVNO | A brand renting masts rather than owning them |
| 7726 | The free number for forwarding fraudulent texts to providers' fraud teams |
Speak to the advisory
Telephone the advisory and we will talk it through. There is nothing to buy at any point.
020 3896 5248This line is for guidance and information only. We sell nothing, arrange nothing and act for no provider. If anything on this page is unclear, telephone and we will explain it.
Independent status. fernwick is an independent guidance and information service. We are not a mobile network. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, appointed by or connected to Three, EE, O2, Vodafone, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile or any other provider, and we hold no commercial arrangement with any of them. We do not sell, supply, arrange or broker SIM cards, contracts, handsets or services of any kind, and we take no commission. Everything published here is general information and must not be relied upon in place of the provider's own current terms.