o2 'free allowance' bolt on lost when port a number in?

markrduk · 28-01-2010, 20:36

I am moving from contract to pay as you go on O2 and have just topped up the pay as you go sim (even though the contract number won't port in until Monday) in order to get the unlimited texts on 'textandweb' before the offer expires.

I did this following the advice of O2 customer services. However, I rang today to discuss a different issue and this topic came up. This customer service advisor told me that when the port takes place the free allowance will be lost and need to be 'recharged' as they put it. i.e. I will have to top up again to get it back!

I realise it's a long shot, but I wondered if anyone else has been in this situation and knows if this is indeed correct. I will be really gutted because I'm effectively going to lose £15! (I mean yeah I'll have the credit, but it's credit I didn't need to buy!) It's really frustrating as I wouldn't have dreamt of topping up the sim before the port if I hadn't been told to by O2 in the first place! In fact the guy said it was a necessity to top up the sim to 'activate' it so the port would go through. This is complete rubbish according to the person at O2 I spoke to today!

prking · 28-01-2010, 21:24

You need to top-up an O2 pay and go SIM (as described in the instruction booklet) in order to make/receive calls.
Are you asking about your free allowance or a bolt-on, they are different things? Are you porting the number from another network or migrating the number from O2 contract to O2 pay and go?

markrduk · 28-01-2010, 21:39

I'm referring to the free allowance that you get when you top up.

It's going O2 contract to O2 pay as you go.

nufc4life · 30-01-2010, 09:20

you shouldn't have to as i moved my o2 number from a 2G sim working with credit to a 3G sim i received in the post that hadn't been topped up and it was fine u just needed to make sure you put it in to your phone to activate it before contacting customer services

Running Water · 30-01-2010, 09:26

If you top up and then port your number in, your account is completely reset - you lose your free allowance, your voicemail resets, the lot!

All you'll need to do is call customer service and explain that you've ported in. They'll reactive your allowance again, no need to top up again.

I've done it before a number of times.

MGS4SnakeRulez · 30-01-2010, 09:26

When I ported a number into O2 I lost my free allowance as the account is completely reset.

prking · 30-01-2010, 09:59

But we are talking about a number migration from contract to Pay as You Go, not porting a number in from another provider.

markrduk · 30-01-2010, 11:03

Ok. So the conclusion is...

I will lose the allowance, but O2 will give it back if I phone up?

Thanks guys

28-01-2010, 20:36	#1
markrduk Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,225	o2 'free allowance' bolt on lost when port a number in? I am moving from contract to pay as you go on O2 and have just topped up the pay as you go sim (even though the contract number won't port in until Monday) in order to get the unlimited texts on 'textandweb' before the offer expires. I did this following the advice of O2 customer services. However, I rang today to discuss a different issue and this topic came up. This customer service advisor told me that when the port takes place the free allowance will be lost and need to be 'recharged' as they put it. i.e. I will have to top up again to get it back! I realise it's a long shot, but I wondered if anyone else has been in this situation and knows if this is indeed correct. I will be really gutted because I'm effectively going to lose £15! (I mean yeah I'll have the credit, but it's credit I didn't need to buy!) It's really frustrating as I wouldn't have dreamt of topping up the sim before the port if I hadn't been told to by O2 in the first place! In fact the guy said it was a necessity to top up the sim to 'activate' it so the port would go through. This is complete rubbish according to the person at O2 I spoke to today!

28-01-2010, 21:24	#2
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	You need to top-up an O2 pay and go SIM (as described in the instruction booklet) in order to make/receive calls. Are you asking about your free allowance or a bolt-on, they are different things? Are you porting the number from another network or migrating the number from O2 contract to O2 pay and go?

28-01-2010, 21:39	#3
markrduk Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,225	I'm referring to the free allowance that you get when you top up. It's going O2 contract to O2 pay as you go.

30-01-2010, 09:20	#4
nufc4life Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: newcastle Posts: 1,080	you shouldn't have to as i moved my o2 number from a 2G sim working with credit to a 3G sim i received in the post that hadn't been topped up and it was fine u just needed to make sure you put it in to your phone to activate it before contacting customer services

30-01-2010, 09:26	#5
Running Water Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 768	If you top up and then port your number in, your account is completely reset - you lose your free allowance, your voicemail resets, the lot! All you'll need to do is call customer service and explain that you've ported in. They'll reactive your allowance again, no need to top up again. I've done it before a number of times.

30-01-2010, 09:26	#6
MGS4SnakeRulez Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 16,705	When I ported a number into O2 I lost my free allowance as the account is completely reset.

30-01-2010, 09:59	#7
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	But we are talking about a number migration from contract to Pay as You Go, not porting a number in from another provider.

30-01-2010, 11:03	#8
markrduk Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,225	Ok. So the conclusion is... I will lose the allowance, but O2 will give it back if I phone up? Thanks guys

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o2 'free allowance' bolt on lost when port a number in?