PAYG cancelled while overseas from lack of use - can i get it reinstated?

[turnerjs]

I have a PAYG sim card account and due to a medical condition, had to leave the UK and return to NZ for 1 year. I didn't use the phone in that time. I have just tried to access it again and found that the number has been cancelled due to lack of use which I believe is 9 months.   Is it possible to get that same number reinstated for use again as its the number I used for 15 years in the UK and thus given out to numerous people over the years.  Im still in NZ as unable to fly back to the UK, so cant go into an EE store, but have trusted friends who could on my behalf. Ive still got the original EE sim card - so can they reinstate from that? Or failing that could a UK based friend go into an EE store and get a new SIM card on my behalf attached to the original EE mobile number?    Any help would be hugely beneficial for me as my particular case is fairly problematic as you can read from above. Thanks team!

[XRaySpeX · Accepted solution]

No, if it hasn't been used for than 9 months, you've lost it for good.

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.