The vast majority of us have changed operators at some time. This is a normal process, since it is very common that although we have been with the same operator for many years, another one arrives with conditions that cannot be rejected. This process means that we have to do a series of things every time we change companies. We are not all the same and we do not all do the same, but we are going to review the most common things that most of us do when we change carriers.
These things that you are going to see next are, as we have said, as common as they are recommended . If you’ve recently changed carriers and haven’t done some of these things, we recommend that you change your mind and do them as soon as possible.
Things we do when we change companies
Each person is a world, and obviously not all of us do the same when it comes to changing companies. However, there are a series of common points that all or almost all of us have considered and made when changing operators. Just below we are going to review the key points that we have to take into account if we have recently changed operator.
Always attentive to the offers and their duration
Many of us decide to switch carriers when a new carrier has an active promotion that can save us some serious money. This is great, since most of the time we can find discounts in almost all operators. Of course, most of these discounts are temporary , so we have to be very careful to know at all times what we are going to have to pay at the end of each month.
The best we can do is write down when we start with our new company and when the discount that we have applied will end . Another very interesting thing that we must always keep “up to date” is the permanence associated with our line, since it will depend on it whether we can change companies again or not without having to pay an annoying penalty.
Activate gift services
Depending on the operator to which we have “moved” we may have some extra or free service that we have to activate in order to enjoy it. I am referring, of course, to services such as Netflix, Disney + and Amazon Prime Video , included in some operator rates.
It is important that this is one of the first things we do, because if we do not activate our accounts we could be losing the opportunity to enjoy them for a longer time. Each operator will give you the necessary instructions to be able to activate these services , although if they do not, it will be up to us to request them.
Download the app of our new operator
Nowadays, most operators have their own app so that we can manage everything related to our line from the same mobile. It may sound like a very obvious thing, but when we change companies one of the first things we should do is delete the app from our old operator and say hello to the one from the new one.
At first, it may be difficult for us to get used to the new application, but these, although different, usually have a fairly similar operation . We just have to install it on our mobile (remember, they are free) and start using it from the first moment.
Find the customer service number of the new operator
This is not something we should do if we don’t need help, but in this life it is better to be forewarned. The same happens with the mobile application: you will have to say goodbye to the customer service number of your previous operator and save the new one in the memory of your phone .
Operators usually have different service numbers depending on the type of customer we are . The most common is the short number that we have for customer service for individuals, but you must bear in mind that if you are self-employed you will have to call another telephone number if you need any type of assistance.
Check that everything is settled with our old operator
Goodbyes are never easy at all, especially when it comes to our former operator. It is very important that we make sure that everything has been settled correctly with this operator, otherwise we could get an unpleasant surprise over time .
The most important thing is that we return the router and the rest of the equipment that we have , since this is usually something that people do not think about doing and that costs a penalty that I am sure that nobody will like to pay.
Turn off answering machine
Something that can be very annoying is the answering machine, and even if we had it deactivated in our previous operator, it does not mean that we also have it with the new one. It’s quite a hassle, so the best thing you can do is deactivate it as soon as possible once you have the SIM from your new operator.
All operators have a different way of turning off the answering machine, so you will have to search the Internet for the way to deactivate it that your new telephone operator has. Do not worry, they are all very simple and will not take you more than a few seconds to do .
Deactivate mega bonuses or similar
Some operators can activate bonuses for extra megabytes or the like without us requesting it, something that, as you can imagine, is not a “dish of good taste”. Just in case, the best thing we can do once we change operator is to launch our new operator app and look to see if we have any service activated of this style .
In the event that we do not have anything activated, it can always serve as “training” in case in the future we want to activate a bonus of megabytes if we fall short in a month that we use the mobile more than necessary.
Change card PIN code
As you know more than enough, all SIM cards are associated with a PIN code that always comes in the information that the operator sends us home when we decide to port it. This PIN code is independent of each SIM card , so you better keep it very well.
In case you don’t want to keep that code, you always have the option to change it if you prefer through the settings of your own phone. It is a very simple process that will not cost you more than a few minutes and with which you will be able to put the code that the previous operator had on your new SIM .
Change router password
If you change the fiber at home and they install a new router, it is essential that one of the first things you do with it is to change the default password. These, as a general rule, are usually as simple as “1234” or “admin” , and with them anyone would have it very easy to access the configuration of your router.
To change the password of this device, all you have to do is enter its configuration yourself and change it through the settings that you will have in the security section. It may seem like a much more difficult option than it really is.
Change Wi-Fi password
Changing the router password is very important, but it is almost more important than changing the WiFi password. The passwords that come by default on the devices are in theory safe, but it is always better to change the password yourself and put one to your liking .
If you’re going to change your password, it’s best not to use any personal information that could make it guessable. On the Internet you can find programs and applications that throw you very strong random passwords , in case you don’t feel like thinking.
Create a guest network
Even if you have changed the password of your router, it never hurts to create a guest network . In this way, your network will remain private for you, and all the people who come home and want to use your WiFi will not have access to the rest of the devices that you have connected to your network.
Creating a guest network is an option that you can find in the configuration of your router, and it is as easy as activating it and giving it a name and a password that you want to put. We recommend that, although you can put whatever you want, you do not put an easy-to-guess password either .
open router ports
One of the most cumbersome things that can result from changing the operator is losing the configuration of our router. If we had a series of open ports to, for example, play online with a game console, we will have to open them again .
If you’ve already done it once, I’m sure you’ll be able to do it again on your new device, even if the menu on your new device is a bit different. The most normal thing is that you find the option to open the ports in the advanced configuration, and what you have to look for is an option that indicates “port triggering”.
Disable WPS
WPS is a function that most routers usually have and that allows you to connect a device without the need to enter a password. This feature is useful for connecting devices where it’s difficult to enter a password manually, but it’s also a major security hole that’s best plugged from the start.
Routers usually have a WPS button on the front of the device, but you have the option to go into the router’s settings with your newly released password and disable the ability to turn it back on .