Recycling

[Dbishop]

Hello, how long before EE recycles a number? My phone number is currently deactivated which I am trying to sort, but it is currently on a contract. 

In any case, how long before a "cancelled" number can be assigned to another person? I need to make sure I can retrieve it 

[XRaySpeX]

If it's on a contract, aren't you paying for it monthly? In which case it shouldn't be deactivated. Why do you think it is?

[Dbishop]

My number is under my ex boyfriends account, and hes deactivated it in
order to isolate me (revenge for him being arrested for domestic v*olence
and r*pe). I believe the contract is still active yes but only because I
doubt he could have instructed otherwise - the contract still has almost
the full 2 years on it as its new. He may have only *suspended* it as
opposed to deactivating it I guess - I cant have incoming or outgoing calls
or texts and no data access. ee wont talk to me about it as I'm not the
account holder - I've had the number 22 years but its been in his name for
2 (coercive control). Ive spoken to the police about it and theyre going to
talk to EE to try liaise a change of ownership as i requested this from him
months ago but he refused. Maybe the number is just suspended rather than
deactivated, i really dont know. But its not in use and im hoping it doesnt
get recycled. Its been out of use as per his instruction to EE for 2 weeks
now and its attached to my business (im self employed) and basically
everything in my name because like i said, ive had it 22 years. If it isnt
deactivated fully and the contract is still being paid for, then hes
genuinely paying to keep my number inactive. Ive asked for full ownership
of my number and billing. Hope that all makes sense. As i said, EE wont
discuss with me, even though i emailed them all the above, so just hoping
my number is safe until it hopefully gets sorted.

[XRaySpeX]

There's not much you can do. He's the owner of that no. The right solution is for a change of ownership but you can't do that w/out his consent, which he's not giving. 

Regarding your original Q, as he's still paying for it & has the contract on it, as it's fairly new & he wouldn't have cancelled it to pay off a hefty exit fee, it is not deactivated but he has put a block on it.

[bristolian]

Recycling takes place over many months, maybe even a year or so.

I don't believe there's a hard & fast rule, but it's not weeks.

[Dbishop]

I mean I'm assuming he's still paying for it ... but my number isn't
working so I dont know. Maybe he isn't and thats why it isn't working, I'm
really not sure.

But I guess my question is either way, how long would it take for that
number to be recycled?

[XRaySpeX]

@bristolian just gave you our best knowledge.

If he's no longer paying for it, he's just paid a hefty sum to cancel it. Is he likely to do that?

[Dbishop]

Ah! Just saw. Thanks 🙂

[Dbishop]

Thanks... 🙏🙏