Can I Cancel Service While Keeping Phone Number For Porting

How to keep your number when moving networks

Porting your number when you switch network is simple and takes piffling time at all. All you demand is what's chosen a PAC Code.

Hither's how to take your number with you when you lot go out your existing network.

Step i: Make sure you're free to switch without early termination charges

contract

If y'all're out of contract with your network, you're gratis to switch without incurring early termination fees.

If yous're non sure if you're still under contract, you can check by logging into your account on your network'south website.

Alternatively give the network a ring and ask them. Or open up your network's smartphone app, where you lot'll typically observe the information you demand under 'contract'.

In the outcome that you're still under contract and decide to leave, you'll about certainly have to pay off your contract in total.

That could land you with a bill running into hundreds of pounds.

Demand some help finding your contract terminate appointment? We've got details of exactly where to find it in our network-by-network guide.

Step ii: Sign up for a new SIM or telephone

person using phone

Now's the time to complete the purchase of the new telephone you've been coveting. Or sign up for the SIM on the network you'd like to bring together.

You'll notice deals from all the major networks on broadbandchoices, including O2, EE, Vodafone, Three, Virgin Mobile and more.

Demand a bit of help choosing a new phone? Take a look at our selection of the best deals on iPhones, Samsung and Huawei handsets.

Step 3: Contact your network and enquire for a PAC lawmaking

The next step is to get a PAC code (Porting Authorisation Code) from your network. This is a ix-digit alphanumeric number that you'll demand to transfer your number.

You can become your PAC code past telephoning your network. All you need to practise is tell them you'd like to leave and inquire for your PAC.

You may notice that their sales team tries to persuade you to stay with a amend offer. If so, consider your options. But if you're sure you want to go out for another network, remain firm.

Alternatively, if you'd prefer not to speak to anyone you can also get your PAC past texting the word PAC to your network on a particularly designated number.

Under Ofcom rules, your network is obliged to provide your PAC immediately if you contact them by phone. Or within 2 hours if you lot requested your PAC by text bulletin.

Need a flake of assistance choosing a new network? Take a look at our network-by-network guide to coverage quality.

Pace 4: Give your PAC code to your new network

Got the PAC with yous now and gear up to switch? Proficient.

Now you'll need to contact the network you're joining to tell them y'all're transferring your number from your one-time network and give them your PAC.

Your number could exist transferred to your new network's SIM card as early as the next working solar day, but don't be surprised if it takes a little bit longer.

It'southward worth checking whether y'all need to back-up your contacts at this stage. If you're not sure how, caput downward the page and we'll talk you through it.

Yous've got thirty days to give the PAC code to your new network from the date it was issued to you. If you await any longer, information technology'll elapse and yous'll need to request a new PAC.

Stride five: Make the switch

oneplus sim

Once you've given your PAC code to your new network, they'll brainstorm porting the number from your old SIM to your new SIM.

This means that your old number will move to your new SIM on your new network.

Go on your quondam SIM in your old phone for the fourth dimension existence, and then you can make and receive calls and texts.

Once the changeover happens, put your new SIM in your phone and make a call to check that the number has ported correctly.

How can I keep my number if I'm getting a new phone on my existing network?

iphone camera

Want to stay with the same network merely change your deal? That's piece of cake. All you need to do is click through to the deal you similar and place your guild.

You'll need to sign upwards either online or over the telephone, but there's no need to worry about PAC codes as your network will exercise most of the work for you.

If you lot're upgrading to a different handset but staying with the aforementioned network (for example: moving from an sometime Samsung phone to a new iPhone merely staying with O2), there's a good chance you'll be given a new SM card, as your existing SIM may not be compatible with your new phone.

Switching the number over is usually a very uncomplicated process and tin can even be done online with some networks.

Vodafone call it 'SIM Swap'. The network sends a text to your erstwhile phone and you lot just confirm the SIM series numbers (SSN) of your new SIM (in your new telephone) and one-time SIM (in your old phone).

Y'all can discover the series numbers on the SIM cards themselves or on the card that the SIM was originally attached to.

The network then does the residual, and it takes nigh 30 minutes for the switchover to happen. But make sure you back upwardly your contacts before you switch.

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose service when I port my number to a new network?

You shouldn't lose service for any pregnant length of time when you get a new mobile deal and take your number with you.

The porting process is designed to be every bit smooth as possible - though we recommend keeping your old SIM in your phone until the switchover has happened.

There's a chance you'll have a very curt period of outage when the number ports over, simply this shouldn't last longer than a few minutes.

Tin can I still keep my number if I'chiliad moving to a SIM Merely deal?

Yep, yous can. If you move from 1 network to some other so you need to ask your former network for a PAC code, and requite it to your new network inside xxx days.

Your new network volition port your mobile number over to your new SIM. If you're keeping the same mobile phone but changing networks, remember to bank check if your handset is locked to your existing network.

Can I continue my number if I've moved to a new network and forgot to inquire a PAC?

You lot tin can sign up for a new mobile contract with a new network earlier cancelling your previous plan.

In this case, your quondam number will still be with your old network until yous ask them for the PAC code to port it over.

If you've already cancelled your previous contract and didn't get a PAC code, it'south withal worth contacting your old network to meet if they'll consequence yous one.

Depending on how long ago you cancelled the contract, y'all might still be able to go a PAC lawmaking to movement your old number to the new network.

What if my PAC code expires before I get my new SIM?

If you cancel your contract, get the PAC lawmaking issued, but so practise non manage to give your new network the code within thirty days, don't worry - you lot tin asking a new PAC code from your old network.

Nearly of the time this shouldn't be a problem. When a contract has terminated, and the telephone number hasn't been ported over, the number is quarantined for nearly 6 months, significant it should be retrievable and you can utilise it again.

Speak to your old network and run into what they can do.

If, for whatever reason, the number transfer is delayed by your erstwhile network, you could be entitled to a reimbursement.

Check the network's small print to see what your rights are, and and then get in bear on with their customer services team.

How do I dorsum up my onetime contacts?

Outset of all, observe out if your contacts are saved to the telephone or to the SIM. You tin do this by removing the SIM card from the phone and switching the phone back on to encounter if your contacts are still there.

If they're still on the phone, and then you lot should either:

Back them up using a memory menu or cloud service
Or take no action if you're getting a new SIM merely bargain but keeping the same handset

If your contacts are on the SIM bill of fare, re-create them onto the handset.

Await for 'import or copy SIM Contacts' in your phone'southward settings or take a await at your phone'southward manual.

Why should I keep my current mobile phone number?

Start and foremost, it'southward the number that all your family, friends and contacts utilise to go far affect with you. Secondly, a lot of companies you employ every day have your existing number too.

Informing all your contacts that you've got a new number (and getting them to actually change your number in their contacts list) can be fourth dimension-consuming a hassle for both you and them - and someone is bound to go information technology wrong.

You'll have to get agree of your bank, insurance, energy, Tv and broadband providers and every other visitor that may need to get in contact with you.

Volition in that location exist charges if I abolish my mobile phone contract early?

If you're thinking virtually cancelling your contract early then you'll almost certainly be liable for charges.

Most probably yous'll end upwardly paying fees equal to the amount of remaining monthly payments on your contract.

For case, if you take four months left on your contract and you lot pay £25 a month, then your cancellation fee could exist £100 (£25 ten 4).

To discover out if you volition incur cancellation charges (likewise chosen 'disconnection' or 'early termination' fees) speak to your network.

You might exist able to reduce the charge by reducing your monthly allowance and the monthly cost.

If you want to cancel your contact merely stay with the aforementioned network on a new plan, and so speak to your network, equally they might be able to offer y'all a bargain.

What is a PAC lawmaking?

A PAC, or Porting Authorization Code, is a short ix-digit code that is required if you desire to move your existing mobile phone number from one network to another.

All you need to practise is get the code from your existing network and give information technology to the network yous'd similar to bring together.

Can I move to EE, Three, Vodafone, O2 or BT Mobile and take my number?

All networks allow y'all to port your existing telephone number. To go along your number, sign upwardly to your new network, so get the PAC code from your existing network and requite information technology to the new one.

The new network then conducts some checks and will tell you when the number will be moved over.

Can I move to EE, Iii, Vodafone, O2 or BT Mobile and take my number?

All networks let you to port your existing telephone number. To keep your number, sign up to your new network, then get the PAC code from your existing network and requite it to the new 1.

The new network then conducts some checks and will tell you when the number will be moved over.

Can I exit Three, EE, Vodafone or O2 and take my number?

All networks are legally obliged to allow you to port your number to another network when you lot leave.

Just you'll demand to asking a PAC code from them, which you'll be required to give your network when yous brand the switch.