Is it possible to move an 02 contract phone number ( that was originally ported in from Virgin ) from a contract tariff to an 02 PAYG sim without problems

As the contract is ending soon and its a great number I don't want to lose as the phone I want is not yet launched

Will it be easy then to port the PAYG number back onto a contract when the phone is available ( not sure yet who the contract will be )

Anyone ever enter this ghost thread ?

Would I be right in thinking that since your number will be part of your original networks allocation, any calls/txts actually get sent to them, and they automatically forward them on to the new network?

If so, what happens if you port back to the original network?

Do the calls get sent to the original network, forwarded on to the second network, then back to the original one?

I've only ever ported my number once - any performance issues if you port too many times?

You'll have no problems doing that

You are able to port back to the original network without any performance issues. Any diverts/routing is cancelled once the number is back on it's home network.

For example, if you have an O2 number beginning 07999 and you move to Virgin, calls to your number will still go to O2 (as 07999 is allocated to O2) then are forwarded to Virgin (UK number porting is classed as inefficient compared to other countries due to this forwarding method - if the O2 network developed a fault, calls to your Virgin SIM wouldn't work as the call is routed via O2).

If you leave Virgin and port back to O2, the number would be placed on a new SIM card and all calls would route directly to O2 and would not go to Virgin and back to O2.

Just what I wanted to hear - thanks

Unwritten, I just want to take a moment to thank you for taking time to write that all down.

I've said on this forum before that although I love all the new gadgets, at heart I'm still a bit of a technophobe !

I've asked Father Christmas for an iphone and as I've been good all year, I'm pretty sure he'll bring it and I'll be needing to move my number to the O2 network and didn't have the first idea how, so thanks again.

Hi everyone, quick question regarding PAC's as I have not requested one before.

Do I need to contact my network to give them 30 days cancellation period first, then request the PAC, or can I simply request the PAC once the 18 month point has past?

So if you port your number to a different network, you're effectively reliant on both networks not developing a fault?

If either have a problem then you may lose your connection?

Who is responsible for sorting out the problem if that happened?

If you move your number from one network to another. Say i go from o2 to orange, my calls would still be routed through o2. So does that mean that my nan who is also on orange, would still be billed as if she is calling an o2 phone?

If so it seems a bit unfair as there is no way of telling if a number has been ported or not.

That used to be the case with regards to call charges, but that issue has now been dealt with and your nan would be billed for calling the NEW network and not the old one.

If you port from O2 to Orange, and someone rings your number, the incoming call will go via O2's network and then this will switch (or forward) to Orange's network. So for example if the O2 network was down in your area, although you are on Orange, the call require the O2 network to be routed to Orange. If O2 doesn't work, the call will not connect. The number always remains part of the previous network. If you don't use your number for ages and it's disconnected, even though you've ported to Orange, O2 would claim the number back and it could be reallocated.

From September 2009, there will be a central database for ported numbers, meaning calls will not rely on the previous network to connect.

hiya am with 02 and i think they are very good, especially when all your family and friends are on same network 02......................

That's interesting to know about the central database - but in your example above why would locality (network being down in your area) have anything to do with it?

What networks send the pac code in the post

I'm out of contract with Orange on the 11th August, and wanting to get an Iphone 3Gs, obviously I need to give Orange 30 days notice which I will do on 11th July.

Will Orange give me the PAC code when I cancel or will they send it to me when the contract expires?

If you have requested a pac and then the phone you want is out of stock so the 30 days expires then if i get a new pac then they will hold you to another 30 days wont they?

I was going to get a iphone next week and provide my pac code to o2 on the 26th day but if they dont have any stocvk then i wont be able to port?

My contract with Vodafone ends on 10th September. I looked at the upgrades on offer but nothing of interest and
the contracts for new customers are more tempting.
So I have decided to go on to Asda's PAYG and can then decide if I want a new phone in my own time.

The questions are (i) do I have to give 30 days notice to Vodaphone (my original contract was actually with DOT Mobile as I was a student and when they went into receivership VF took over) hence I am not sure of the T+C's.
(ii) If I dont inform them 30 days before the end of contract date do they just automatically renew the contract ?
(iii) When is the optimum time to ask for a PAC ?

Many thanks in anticipation of the answers flooding in .....

Sorry but i was told to post this here, so sorry if you read this somewhere else from earlier.

Right, so if i buy a phone from mobilephonesdirect, it comes with a new sim card and number with the contract on it, well i think thats how it works, but when i receive the phone, if i ring t-mobile and ask if i can have my old number on a sim only contract, can they transfer it over to the new t-mobile contract. i would much prefer to keep my number if it was possible

Also just to add, they have done something similar for me before too, when moving from pay as you go, to sim only, rather than send me a new sim card, they somehow just let me keep my number, on the same sim card and a new number, all i had to do was turn my phone off and back on at a certain time, isit a similar process for what i want to do now or not?

and is there a reason why companies don't do this, or quite often to me look like they try and avoid letting you keep your number?

They will do anything to keep you as a customer. That's why they make you speak to a real person to order the PAC - so that they can try to convince you to stay. Often you can drop hints and get them to offer you things that you want, like some free minutes or texts.

You may also notice that the process of getting to the option "Thinking of leaving us and need a PAC code? Press 4..." on the automated service will unnecessarily convoluted, often making you go through loads of other menus, sit through pre-recorded messages and long periods of silence that are designed to make you think they've hung up on you, so that you'll do the same and have to start all over again!

I asked O2 by email for my PAC code today (i didn't think they replied on sundays!!!) and i now have it. They sent it by email, didn't have to speak to anyone

is it possible to transfer pay as you go number to a contract ?

i'm getting a iphone on 3 and currently have a orange pay as you go which i've had for years and would like to keep the number.

Yes it's possible. I've transferred two numbers, one from Tesco Mobile PAYG to Orange monthly, and one from Tesco Mobile PAYG to O2 monthly. Both changed without a hitch.

Thanks for that. Just changing my provider and have £20 left on my payg. I hadnt thought of donating it.

So, just a question about your last point.
September 09 seems like such a long time ago now, In Jan 2011 I believe that this central database is still not in place?
Am I correct by saying this? have any provisions been put in place?

Many thanks.
Last edited by rj00 : 08-01-2011 at 02:32

Hi, I have a small question.

I understand that once your current contract expires, if you haven't transferred the number you lose your number.

What if the PAC code is requested before the contract expires? Is it still valid after the contract expires, providing its used within 30 days.

ie. the contract expires on the 20th, the PAC code is obtained on the 12th could the number be transferred on the 30th?

Thanks