The jargon you'll meet in contracts and support chats, translated into kitchen English.
| The term | In kitchen English |
|---|---|
| 4G Calling / VoLTE | Calls over 4G — essential now 3G is gone; lives in call settings. |
| 5G standalone / 5G+ | 5G running on its own modern core instead of leaning on 4G. Snappier where it exists; EE leads the rollout. |
| Deadlock letter | The network admitting in writing it can't fix your complaint — your early ticket to the free ombudsman. |
| eSIM | A SIM you download instead of poking out of a card. |
| Fair use policy | The clause that bends "unlimited" — abroad, on hotspots, on "endless" apps. |
| Host network | The big network a small brand rents: Tesco Mobile rides O2; SMARTY rides Three. |
| MVNO | Industry-speak for those renting brands. |
| Not-spot | Somewhere with no usable signal — what the satellite trials are hunting. |
| OTP | One-time passcode. Read it to nobody who rings. Ever. |
| PAC | The keep-your-number code. Free — text PAC to 65075. |
| Roaming | Using your phone abroad — each network's own rules since Brexit. |
| Spend cap | A free ceiling on surprise charges; set it in the app on day one. |
| STAC | The fresh-number switching code. Free — text STAC to 75075. |
| Tethering / hotspot | Sharing phone data with a laptop — the clause to check on unlimited plans. |
| Wi-Fi Calling | Calls over broadband where masts can't reach — the free cure for dead rooms. |
Ring or WhatsApp and ask your question out loud — coverage, switching, a deal you're not sure about, a bill that stalled, a call that smelt fishy. We'll talk it through in plain English.
Calls: standard landline rate (020), usually inside your inclusive minutes. WhatsApp: free on your data. We give general guidance only — we can't open or touch any network account, and we NEVER ask for passwords, one-time codes, banking or card details.