Mobile providers ordered to make switching easier: Phone customers will be able to switch by text in ONE DAY from 2019

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Mobile phone customers will be ale to ditch an old provider by sending a free text message in future, under sweeping regulator reforms.

In 18 months time, customers will no longer have to call their provider to explain why they want to leave and be subjected to drawn out 'unwanted' efforts to try and make them stay.

Under Ofcom's new rules, mobile providers will also be banned from charging for notice periods running after the switch date. 

He'll be switching: Mobile customers will be able to switch providers by text message from July 2019

This will put an end to people paying for old and new services at the same time, with the regulator claiming to be able to save consumers £10million a year.

Around 2.5 million people experience a major problem while trying to switch mobile providers, with seven in ten encountering 'at least some' difficulty, Ofcom said. 

Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom's consumer group director, said: 'Too many people are put off by the hassle of switching mobile provider. Our changes will make it quicker and easier for mobile phone users to get a better deal.

'Customers will control how much contact they have with their current mobile provider, preventing companies from delaying and frustrating the switching process.'

Mobile operators will have to set up 'short codes' enabling people to text for free switching and provide immediate automated responses.

The switching service then has to take place within one working day, leaving the customer with no notice period charges to pay.

All the new rules will come into force from 1 July 2019.

For the system to work, all of the UK's mobile operators will need to make changes to their systems and co-ordinate with one another. 

Problems: Around 2.5 million people experience a major problem while trying to switch mobile providers

Mobile providers will also have to publish and promote 'clear guidance' to help customers follow the new process and make informed switching decisions.

A Vodafone spokesman said: 'We agree that it should be simple for customers to select the service which best suits them and we are examining Ofcom's announcement.

'Customers should not have to pay twice to switch supplier, a change we have already implemented.

'Proper provision also needs to be made for customers on 'bundled' packages, as well as those wanting to switch to forthcoming fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband services.' 

Meanwhile, a spokesman from Three said: 'While we are pleased that there is now a simpler process, we believe that Ofcom’s decision not to prevent "last ditch" deals means that the UK still lags behind its international peers in terms of consumer rights.'

Around 5 million UK consumers currently switch mobile provider each year