topic Re: lost my number in SIM cards & Porting

lost my number

Ash741 — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 15:50:31 GMT

I've lost my number which I had since 1996 when Orange first started in UK, Sheffield. This number is vital to me for banking or other times that sites want to confirm my ID. Your website doesn't work, even when I use my UK VPN, the site has always been terrible. I CANNOT ring 0800 or 0345 numbers from China. My parents have gone to the shop and tried to sort this out, and I gave them all my passwords, we have the same address, and I even managed to speak to the people in the shop via my Skype call to my Mum, and said they could sort this out. Now my parents have emailed me to say I need to ring directly... HOW MANY TIMES have I told you I cannot ring those numbers from here! What a surprise it won't let me post this! @anyone

Re: lost my number

Michael_D — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 15:57:29 GMT

Hi @Ash741

Thanks for coming to the community.

It is correct that our team would need to speak to you directly, they would not be able to discuss the account with your parents.

When you say that the number has been lost, have you lost the actual SIM or has the number been disconnected?

If you have access to Skype, you can dial 0800 079 8586 on Skype to get through to our team to discuss the account and number.

Michael

Re: lost my number

XRaySpeX — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 16:00:09 GMT

@Ash741 : Were you on contract or PAYG?

How did you lose your no.? Was it that you hadn't paid your bill (contract) or hadn't used your SIM for over 9 months (PAYG)? In either case you would've lost it for good & you cannot get it back. You would need to arrange with the sites you have it registered at to change your contact no.

You'd be wasting your time trying to contact EE, even if you could get thro'. They won't give it back.

Re: lost my number

Northerner — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 15:59:06 GMT

Hi @Ash741

As you can use Skype then call EE using the number in my signature. (UK office hours).

More information on number hibernation can be found here:

https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/manage-use/pay-as-you-go/pay-as-you-go-credit-run-out-when-i-havent-made-calls

Thanks

Re: lost my number

Chris_B — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 16:08:50 GMT

@Ash741 0800 0345 will not work unless you dial 0044 first. It’s an international call from China, you need to dial out of the country 00 then the country code your calling 44.

Re: lost my number

Ash741 — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 23:47:05 GMT

I have my SIM, I can't top it up. The text I got was dated 13 jan 25 saying my number would be disconnected.

I've tried using Skype as per the other comment to ring the 0800 number and it doesn't work.

This is also the last time I can log in now too, as it keep saying it needs to authenticate my account but only gives me an option to use texting, and I had 4 chances and used them all now. I've tried with both my UK number (nothing) and my China number and neither work, so I'm not even going to be able to log into this now either.

Hopef ully I'll still get an email repsonse to any replies in here.

Re: lost my number

Ash741 — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 23:51:11 GMT

Hi, the text message says 6 months. I was on PAYG for the last few years.

Re: lost my number

XRaySpeX — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:25:05 GMT

Sounds like your PAYG SIM may have gone into hibernation due to non-use.

When did you previously make a chargeable action? EE PAYG SIMs are deactivated after 6 months of non-chargeable use. You then have a further 3 months period of grace to call EE to reactivate it before it is lost completely.

You needed to make a chargeable action like making a chargeable call or text, topping up or buying a Pack or Add-on, not just using your mins, texts or data from your pack.

Re: lost my number

Schockwave — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 12:49:00 GMT

@Ash741 , you need to ring using the international code, which is +44 or 004then 800, see my signature for using Skype and making calls to customer support.