How often do mobile companys recycle old numbers.. just had my 02 number terminated today, so i thought this number will be used again soon.. anyone know if they do recycle numbers ?

They'll have to recycle at some point - as it is more efficient than asking for new area codes all the time.

Whether a network recycles would depend on their existing holdings and how many unused numbers they have. If they do recycle, I'd imagine that there is an appropriate waiting period before that number is reused.

I have a number that i last used way back around 2000 on Vodafone and its still dead.

At one time they all had a stated OFCOM- approved policy on this. Numbers went into a "dead pool" for some time (at least a year AFAIR) before being allowed to be reused. It was impossible to retrieve numbers from this pool. I have not seem much said on this recently!

I should imagine they would leave it as long as possible.

I have a new vodafone PAYG sim card, after i topped up i got a text from a phone number stating that rebbeca has turned up late for school, and reminding me the school times..
Second day i got one saying the girl had not arrived st school, could i text a reply, which i did
And got no answer from the sender.., which is why i thought of recyled numbers.. maybe it was a wrong digit ..

It may well be recycled - you have to go to school for a few years, maybe the number was given as Rebecca's parental contact number in say year 7 and now she's in year 10 - 4 years is quite a long time to wait before recycling

I have an 03 number on a VoIP line that must be printed on someone's parking tickets, because I get calls and voicemails relating to fines that people have received. Obviously I can't help them.

Well i suppose more and more people having 2 or even 3 phones, one maybe for buisness
One for personal calls, and one for adultry..
No wonder we need more numbers..

Rather apt link in my news stream last night..

What Happens When You Get Sir Mix-A-Lot's Phone Number

Many moons ago I had a PAYG Vodafone mobile and for well over 18 months all was well!! Then late at night I would receive very odd calls....the caller having a Birmingham locality accent....I am in Central Scotland and nobody that I knew! They were a bit disconcerting to say the least...especially at 1 or 2 am in the early morning!! After afew nights I told them bluntly that I had no idea who or what they wanted and that if any further calls occurred I would contact the police! Their number was withheld by the way!! 5 mins later again the phone rang...this time a very abusive woman shouted and swearing said "what are you doing with my @#£**sons phone you..illegitimate and other choice expletives!! I calmy explained that I lived in Scotland
..had had this number for over 18 months and if I received one more call both the police and Vodaphone would be informed,!!! The call cut off...and never heard another word!!
Contacted Vodafone and told they re-cycle numbers after 2 years. They would investigate calls....never heard another word from them!!!

There was this well published story just over a year ago

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-29649603

Seems like a simple dumb blond story that one or did she really think the network would keep that number going for eternity.

I doubt she even came close to thinking what might or might not happen to the number

I've had my fair share of recycled numbers from the EE 200GB sims. Plenty of texts from random numbers and spam calls even though the number is "brand new". I got invited to a few parties, and to go golfing with the lads. I did, however, inform these people that I am not who they thought I was.

Most recently I signed up with BT Mobile and within days of having the number I received phishing texts with dodgy urls trying to steal Paypal and Apple accounts.

All I ever seem to get is phone numbers of people who had bad debts.

Sensibly it really has to be the opposite of FIFO. (First In, First Out)

So LILO it will likely be.

Perhaps she thought a mobile phone is a modern version of the Ouija board.

I've never had a recycled number allocated to me that's had issues. I've had various promo SIMs over the years with no issues! I've had my main mobile number for.... better part of 15 years. Frightening!