What is pay as you go and flex hibernation, and how do I stop it?

[Landyandy1]

Hi I'm in south America now and I can not make a changeable text or call I don't want to lose my ee number , I can't call EE because my SIM card will not call out i was on a contract but at the end of the contract I moved it over to pay as you go so I could keep my number, but it's not working to call out or text.. apparently I have to go back to the UK to put it on a UK cell tower so it will work but I'm not back to the UK till April 2025 , so how can I keep my number? Can I just keep topping it up every 5 months? To keep it active thanks Andy 

[XRaySpeX]

@Landyandy1 : When was your SIM moved to PAYG? It takes 30 days notice to cancel a contract & before it is moved to PAYG. Had that change taken place while abroad you can't now use it at all while abroad. To be used abroad EE PAYG SIMs need 1st activating on EE's home UK network. If it wasn't you can't now use it until you return to UK.

[Landyandy1]

Hi thanks for the reply, yes I've been travelling for 18 months so I've not been back to the UK . 

I changed it over in march to pay as you go but it's the same SIM card, I'm not to bothered about making calls but I do want to keep my number, as far as I can work out if I top it up it will keep my number going untill I get back to the UK in April for a few weeks. It that correct? Thanks Andy 

[XRaySpeX]

It changed over to PAYG while you were abroad & so you can't use it there as I said.

[Landyandy1]

Thanks but ,Like I said I'm not bothered about using it I just wanted to keep my number!  so if I top it up I should still keep my number? Thanks Andy 

[bristolian]

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@Landyandy1 wrote:

I changed it over in march to pay as you go but it's the same SIM card

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For the purposes of a PAYG activation, you have a new PAYG SIM. That new PAYG SIM needs activating in the UK first.

You "may" be able to tick the hibernation boxes by putting a regular top-up on, but won't be able to use the phone until the SIM is used in the UK.

[XRaySpeX · Accepted solution]

Yes, as long as you top-up within 179 days of your last.

[Landyandy1]

Thanks that's what I needed to know, thanks Andy 

[XRaySpeX]

Thanks! You're welcome 🙂 ! Glad I could be of assistance & trust it is now sorted.