topic Re: Mobile number already in use in SIM cards & Porting

Mobile number already in use

StacieWareham — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:46:51 GMT

You've sent me a new sim today, but it's already in use by someone called Barbara apparently... How do I go about removing Barbara?

Re: Mobile number already in use

Schockwave — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 16:41:03 GMT

Hello @StacieWareham ,

Welcome to the community,

I would suggest you ring customer service and speak to them by pressing option 2, and they can take a look for you.

Just one question, how do you know that it is already being used by someone called Barbara?

Re: Mobile number already in use

bristolian — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:01:23 GMT

What makes you think your new SIM is being used by someone called Barbara?

Re: Mobile number already in use

StacieWareham — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 22:35:05 GMT

Thank you will call tomorrow.

As soon as I put the sim in, I had several messages come through for a Barbara.

Also, when signing up to Facebook, the number was already linked to a profile with the name Barb, which I presume is Barbara, so I had access to this random woman's Facebook account.

Perhaps it would be best for you to send me a new sim, as I shouldn't be having access to people's socials that easily.

Re: Mobile number already in use

bristolian — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 23:59:10 GMT

When a mobile number is disconnected or cancelled, it's left in a quarantine pool for an extended period of time precisely to avoid and/or minimise the sort of thing you've described. Equally "Barbara" appears to have been somewhat lax with her social media security in not removing access to her old number - nothing EE can do about that.

CS should offer to change your number in this case, and hopefully there shouldn't be a repeat.

Re: Mobile number already in use

XRaySpeX — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:05:17 GMT

It's not being used now but was used once in the past by Babs!