Swap over two numbers, keeping one active for 3 months

[Curlydog1]

I have a monthly contract on EE and also an old PAYG (which had been on T-mobile).

I would like to take the PAYG number as my new main number and so swap it onto my contract. However, for work purposes I need to keep the old number active for about 3 months in case people need me. 
What is the best way to do this, or is it even possible?

thanks

[Leanne_T]

Hi @Curlydog1

Thanks for coming back to us. 

I would suggest giving us another call if you would like to follow the advice @mikeliuk has provided 🙂

Thanks. 

Leanne.

[Curlydog1]

@mikeliuk @Christopher_G @Leanne_T 

I have spoken to EE and this won't work because I would lose all my customer loyalty discounts 😞

Sadly the only way to do it and keep both active for a "grace period", is to bring the second number into the existing contract at double the price and pay for them both for a full year and then drop the initial one off onto PAYG or just ditch it completely after the year is up.

Some things just aren't possible it would seem. 

[mikeliuk]

It does seem that we are nearing the end of options and we are into splitting hairs territory.

I guess the problematic part was moving your main contract to PAYG and that triggers loss of loyalty discounts.

They will agree to renew both SIMs on your good terms. Have they explicitly said they won't give you the loyalty discounts on the PAYG SIM put onto a fixed term contract with your discounts alone without also renewing your contract SIM?

Would they agree to put your PAYG SIM on a contract with discounts if you renew your main contract SIM at a lower price, perhaps making it a GBP 8.10/mth additional line?

We're really into splitting hairs territory so feel free to ignore all of the above. Good luck! 😀

[Curlydog1]

@mikeliuk 

It seems that because I have been with ee for more than 25 years then I am at the lowest possible tariff of about £6.25 which I would lose the benefit of, if I transferred this number to a PAYG and then put the 2nd number on a contract at full price.

The best option that ee offered me was to bring the 2nd number as an additional number onto the existing contract for a whole year alongside the existing number. This would double the contract price - so £72 per year extra. Then after a year is up, apparently only then can I let the original number drop off the contract.

Strange but it seems to be the only way they will let me keep the benefits of the loyalty.

You would think that after 25 years loyalty, there must be an easier way to do this, without immediately losing the first number, which lays one open to number theft and fraud.

😞

Perhaps I need to explore options with other providers.

[mikeliuk]

I think the real problem here is that your current terms are perhaps excessively good/favourable so that what you are offered looks terrible in comparison. 😂

The best I've been offered is £6/mth for 4 GB data and unlimited texts and calls. For many people £72 p.a. would be a small percentage of their main contract so it would look good but not compared to your main contract.

My general philosophy is that if I receive a good price or great terms, I see if I can buy more of it. Whether this applies depends on how much data you have and whether you use it (perhaps you have no requirement for both phones for the full year and have no one you could give the unwanted SIM to).

I don't think it's a negative to test the waters with another provider. Cashback offers can be very favourable although there's a danger of landing on a provider with poor reception.

I guess a key thing in all the juggling is to protect your good discounts on the contract you are keeping. One thing I worry about is that I may lose more money in the time taken thinking about something compared to just buying the more convenient option at a slightly higher price. 😁

If your discounts can be applied to more expensive contracts, you could use one SIM for tethering devices and eventually replace your house internet with 4G mobile broadband. The options are endless. 😂

[Curlydog1]

@mikeliuk 

Yes, you are absolutely right, my current offer is so favourable that everything else seems expensive. 
But it seems like you have achieved an even better deal than me at £6 and 4GB! 🤔🤣

I am attempting to do this for sentimental reasons rather than necessity (keeping the number of my dear departed😢) so to some people it’s a total waste of money. Unless I could put the additional Sim into my iPad and use the data? 

Personally I don’t really understand why something this simple needs to be so complicated....why for instance do I have to keep both on the same contract for a full year? I just feel I should be able to switch them over nice and simple....but nothing ever is, is it? After more than 25 years with EE I would have thought there was something that could be done. 

Ironically my coverage is lousy where I am, but I like EE customer service and sometimes that is worth staying for.  
Thanks for your help and interest. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk about my issue. 
stay safe 

curlydog