topic Re: Old phone number in Pay as you go

Old phone number

HolsMc — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 13:24:31 GMT

Hi, I have just found my old phone it used to be on orange but transferred over to EE back in 2013 I was wondering if the number would still be active ?

Re: Old phone number

XRaySpeX — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 13:37:27 GMT

Not on PAYG. They are completely deactivated after 9 months of non-use. You'll to get a new SIM to use that phone.

Re: Old phone number

dswizz1 — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 19:20:28 GMT

Hi I have a follow up question about this:

You mention that this is not possible on PAYG, but what happens to old contract numbers in the same situation when the contract ends?

Thanks!

Re: Old phone number

XRaySpeX — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 19:37:38 GMT

@dswizz1 : These mobile contracts don't just end, just the min. term expires. They are not fixed term contracts. After the min. term they just carry on at the same price on a rolling 30-days' notice basis until you explicitly cancel, upgrade or port your no. away.

To end a contract you have to cancel it & once you stop paying for it, it's no longer your no.

Re: Old phone number

dswizz1 — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 20:59:56 GMT

Thanks for the response, appreciate it! I think more specifically I 'm trying to find out what happens to the phone number after the contract is terminated?

My old phone number from a few years ago is linked to a few 2 factor authentication things which i cannot get past any other way, is there any way to find out if the number is in use and claim the number if its not in use? thanks again!

Re: Old phone number

XRaySpeX — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 22:19:44 GMT

@dswizz1 : Relinquished nos. like yours go into quarantine for a few month before going into the pool of free nos. ready to be re-assigned. You can't specify a particular no. for a new contract.

Re: Old phone number

dswizz1 — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 13:32:27 GMT

Thanks again, I guess my ultimate question is–is there anything I can do, theres some super important stuff I need to get but the only way I can get to it is though this number?

Thanks

Re: Old phone number

XRaySpeX — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 13:37:17 GMT

@dswizz1 : Only if these sites themselves allow you to change your contact no.

The moral is not to cancel a mobile no. when you have so much hanging on it.