Port back to same network?

AntMuz

I'm currently nearing the end of my Orange contract and want to stay on the network but the next phone I want (Treo650) is £150 for upgrades, but through another dealer it's £30 for new customers. I also want to keep my number.

I know it can be a complex route to port back to the same network, but I remember that at one time this could be done. I think you could port your number to Virgin or Vodafone PAYG and port back to Orange. Does that way still work? Or is there an easier method?

Thanks

fatboyonadiet

No easier way but you can still do it. Have you asked them to match the other offer, try your luck, might work.

MrGreen

AntMuz wrote:

I know it can be a complex route to port back to the same network, but I remember that at one time this could be done. I think you could port your number to Virgin or Vodafone PAYG and port back to Orange. Does that way still work? Or is there an easier method?
Thanks

If Orange don't agree on matching prices, when your contract has finished the best/quickest way would be to port your number to Virgin PAYG and when you get your new contract port your number back to Orange, It can still be done, I know someone who is doing it with t-mobile via Virgin.
It sounds more hassle then it actually is, you just got to be patient, from Orange to Virgin will take up to 7 days
Give Virgin a call a few days after the number has been transferred asking them for a PAC code, then about 7 days from when you give your PAC code to Orange your number should be back on Orange.
Good luck

Genie

I did this last year. Ported my number to a Virgin PAYG sim, took 7 days.

Then ported the number back to my new orange contract (2 weeks into the orange contract)

skiddy2k

Genie wrote:

I did this last year. Ported my number to a Virgin PAYG sim, took 7 days.

Then ported the number back to my new orange contract (2 weeks into the orange contract)

yep. i did the same thing as genie, im actually in the middle of porting my number back to orange. They told me it'l take me 7 days to port number back from virgin to my new orange contract.


skiddy

saver_natalie

What's the minimum time that Virgin will make you be on their PAYG network before they'll give you a new PAC code?

charlotte3

Thanks for this guys! I was wondering about this, as when my contract is up in May, I will be looking for a cashback deal with a good phone.

Currently I have a SE K750i with Orange, but it's not on a cashback deal and I'm fed up with giving them the full amount each month with nothing back.

At least now I know that I can keep my number and stay with the same network in the long run.

skiddy2k

saver_natalie wrote:

What's the minimum time that Virgin will make you be on their PAYG network before they'll give you a new PAC code?

i think its 1 month, because this is how long i was with them. but, im not sure for certain what the minimum timescale is.

Skiddy

MrGreen

skiddy2k wrote:

i think its 1 month, because this is how long i was with them. but, im not sure for certain what the minimum timescale is.

Skiddy

It's not as long as that, the whole point of porting your number to Virgin is because they have the shortest period in which you have to stay with them, my friend who has just ported his number via Virgin phoned them up two days after his number was transferred to them and was given a PAC code. He did have a Virgin PAYG sim at home which he used which might have made the process quicker, I'm not sure though.

Anon

I ported from Orange to Tmobile and as soon as the number arrived, phoned Tmobile and asked for a PAC - not long later number was back (if I recall correctly, Orange send out your PAC by text almost instantly, whereas Tmobile sent it by letter). Definitely worth doing if you have had your number for a while and it takes very little effort (with a week or so carrying 2 mobiles around, or on call forward).

Anon

Steve_xx

With Orange you can transfer from contract to PAYG, you can probably do the same with the others. You go and get a new handset and a new number from a dealer or whoever. You then record an answerphone greeting on the old Orange phone telling your callers that you now have a new number.

It's a lot less hassle than porting back and forth, but appreciate it won't suit everybody.