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Inquiry About Phone Number Status

Debbiewan
Investigator
Investigator

Hi, I am writing to check if my phone number is still active after being inactive for some time. I purchased the SIM card in 2021, but I haven’t used it since 2023. Therefore, I was wondering if this number will still be functional when I return to the UK in 2025. Thank you for your assistance.

7 REPLIES 7
XRaySpeX
EE Community Star
EE Community Star

@Debbiewan : Not if it's on PAYG & if it were on contract you would've been paying for it & so you would know.

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.

If you think I helped please feel free to hit the "Thumbs Up" button below.

To phone EE CS: Dial Freephone +44 800 079 8586 - Option 1 for Mobile Phone & Mobile Broadband or Option 2 for Home Broadband & Home Phone

ISPs: 1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up > 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB > 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB > 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU > 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU > 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC > 2014: EE 20 Meg WBC > 2020: EE 40 Meg FTTC > 2022:EE 80 Meg FTTC SoGEA > 2025 EE 150 Meg FTTP
Debbiewan
Investigator
Investigator

Thank you for your quick replying. Mine is PAYG, so it means that I just need to top up again before I restart to use this number.  Is that right? 

No, that's not right. As it's been inactive for over 9 months you've lost it & its no. completely. You'll need to buy another PAYG SIM new.

If you think I helped please feel free to hit the "Thumbs Up" button below.

To phone EE CS: Dial Freephone +44 800 079 8586 - Option 1 for Mobile Phone & Mobile Broadband or Option 2 for Home Broadband & Home Phone

ISPs: 1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up > 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB > 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB > 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU > 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU > 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC > 2014: EE 20 Meg WBC > 2020: EE 40 Meg FTTC > 2022:EE 80 Meg FTTC SoGEA > 2025 EE 150 Meg FTTP
Debbiewan
Investigator
Investigator

Ok, if I need to buy another PAYG SIM, how much would it cost? Are there any options I can choose from? thx

You will have to do this when you return to the UK in 2025 as you cannot activate a SIM outside of the UK. There will be no way of getting your old number back, you will be provided a new one.

The pricing is available here but may change depending on when you are back in the UK.


@Debbiewan wrote:

Thank you for your quick replying. Mine is PAYG, so it means that I just need to top up again before I restart to use this number.  Is that right? 


Please read EE hibernation policy:

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

Thanks 




To contact EE Customer Services dial 150 From your EE mobile or 0800 956 6000 from any other phone. You can call Freephone +44 800 079 8586 on Skype

EE standard opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm - Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 8pm.

The price of a new PAYG SIM is just the same as the price of the pack on it, which is included in the price. These haven't changed for years.

If you think I helped please feel free to hit the "Thumbs Up" button below.

To phone EE CS: Dial Freephone +44 800 079 8586 - Option 1 for Mobile Phone & Mobile Broadband or Option 2 for Home Broadband & Home Phone

ISPs: 1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up > 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB > 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB > 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU > 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU > 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC > 2014: EE 20 Meg WBC > 2020: EE 40 Meg FTTC > 2022:EE 80 Meg FTTC SoGEA > 2025 EE 150 Meg FTTP