mobile phone sim card

marcus · Post by **marcus** » 28 Sep 2006, 18:41

If you purchase a new phone that comes with a sim card, is it possible to transfer your old number onto the new sim? :think:
Somebody told me you can but some how I doubt it.

blanston12 · Post by **blanston12** » 28 Sep 2006, 18:47

Does your old phone have a sim card and have you tried it in the new phone? If not I would ask your service providers. I had a sim card go bad on me and they gave me a new one putting the old number onto it.

Vulcan_to_the_Sky! · Post by **Vulcan_to_the_Sky!** » 28 Sep 2006, 18:56

I can say yes, cause I've done it twice with new phones from Orange. The first guy said no, but asked a different salesperson a day later and he did it for me first time, new sim card, but same old number.

marcus · Post by **marcus** » 28 Sep 2006, 21:43

ah there you go, you learn something new every day.

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 28 Sep 2006, 22:33

Not sure if you are referring to a pay-as-you-go, or a monthly tariff mobile.

If it is the monthly tariff, the previous provider has to provide a MAC code to enable you to transfer your number.

If it is pay-as you-go, I have no idea, but why should it not be the same?

Post by **TSR2** » 28 Sep 2006, 23:11

Hopefully I can clear up some confusion...

regardless of whether its a pay as you go or a pay monthly phone, in order to transfer your number from one provider to another, you simply contact the customer services department of your current provider and request the "PUK" code. The PUK code is what you must give to your new opperator in order for them to transfer the number and this usually takes between 5 and 10 working days... although it has been known to take longer.

Usually when you contact the customer services to request the PUK code they will try to tempt you back with all sorts of good deals, so its an idea to get your PUK code BEFORE you get a new phone, as your current opperator may have some excellent deals which are only available to people who are aboout to leave.

I will mention here that your new phone (assuming you have chosen to switch provider) will still work on a temporary number unrtil your number is transfered. When the transfer has been activated, there is usually no warning, but you may have to switch your phone off and on to get it to work.

The difficulty come when you are with opperator A. You walk past there shop (or online) and see an new contract which looks better and you have already met your obligations under your old contract... (typically you have had the contract for a year)
Even though you are wanting to stay with you current provider and take this new better contract, its usually a case of "Brand new customers only" and as you are an existing customer you don't qualify, so you may have to pay an "upgrade fee"

Of course you could cancel your old contract with provider A and take out the new one, but this is were they usually are complete twats and refuse to transfer your number to the new phone. Technically there is nothing stopping them transfering the number, but they'd rather you paid the "upgrade fee"

Hope that cllears a few things up.

ianhind · Post by **ianhind** » 29 Sep 2006, 00:39

Sorry MAC code is for switching broadband provider

- same principle as Ben described.

Edit:

And having checked again, it is a PAC code (Port Authorisation Code) for switching phone operators (PUK is to unlock a phone when the PIN has been entered wrongly too many times).

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/help-and-a ... page_id=90

All these bloody TLAs :redface:

Post by **TSR2** » 29 Sep 2006, 10:43

doh... well spotted Ian