Ex-pat living abroad still paying Vodafone to keep UK Number

SantaMonicaMax

Hi,

I moved to the US about 4 years ago, since that time I've been paying about 20 pounds a month to keep my UK mobile phone number. Does anyone know a cheaper way of keeping the number? I am currently on a month to month contract with Vodafone. I've had a look on their website and tried to change my plan online to a pay as you go deal but it won't let me.

I've had the number since 1995 and would like to keep it as it's useful to have it when I return to the UK.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

mobilegossip

SantaMonicaMax wrote:

Hi,

I moved to the US about 4 years ago, since that time I've been paying about 20 pounds a month to keep my UK mobile phone number. Does anyone know a cheaper way of keeping the number? I am currently on a month to month contract with Vodafone. I've had a look on their website and tried to change my plan online to a pay as you go deal but it won't let me.

I've had the number since 1995 and would like to keep it as it's useful to have it when I return to the UK.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Is it on a monthly contact where you can give notice after 30 days. Or is it on a contract you have had a long time,and you need to give 30 days notice to cancel it.

prenton01

im in the same situation in dubai i am going to see ask one of the companies who do global sim cards if i can transfer my number i will let you know what the answer is

SantaMonicaMax

mobilegossip wrote:

Is it on a monthly contact where you can give notice after 30 days. Or is it on a contract you have had a long time,and you need to give 30 days notice to cancel it.

It's on a contract that I've had for a long time. A friend of mine here said he moved his to Orange and went Pay as you Go. I think that might be the best course for me.

Over four years I've wasted around $1,600 paying for this phone!

SantaMonicaMax

prenton01 wrote:

im in the same situation in dubai i am going to see ask one of the companies who do global sim cards if i can transfer my number i will let you know what the answer is

Thanks!

mobilegossip

SantaMonicaMax wrote:

It's on a contract that I've had for a long time. A friend of mine here said he moved his to Orange and went Pay as you Go. I think that might be the best course for me.

Over four years I've wasted around $1,600 paying for this phone!

I wold suggest you cancel it, get a pac,and port it to Virgin Payg. They give free voicemail.;) Your need to use it every six months by making a short call or text to keep it going.

melipona

As your friend said you could go over to a PAYG, but be warned some companies have a minimum use policy. Whilst I'm sure that you can get PAYG for £5 a month which is cheaper than what you currently have I think that Virgin Mobile do not have a minimum use policy. I had a quick look at heir Ts & Cs and couldn't see anything, suggest you contact them and ask for sure. Then its a one off payment for the sim card and job done. Note that you will probably need a UK address for them to deal with.

SantaMonicaMax

Thanks for all the help everyone, I really appreciate it. I tried to call Virgin earlier to change things over but the left me on hold for half an hour and I gave up...... Disgraceful customer service!!

Will hopefully get the ball rolling sometime this week

chaos2

Why don't you try O2 payg? Obtain the pac code and pay for a payg sim on O2. Port the number over to the payg. Than you can receive text as long as the phone can be used in that region, free of charge. When in the UK you can used the phone as a PAYG and in the mean time you don't incur any charges on the monthly contract.

SantaMonicaMax

chaos2 wrote:

Why don't you try O2 payg? Obtain the pac code and pay for a payg sim on O2. Port the number over to the payg. Than you can receive text as long as the phone can be used in that region, free of charge. When in the UK you can used the phone as a PAYG and in the mean time you don't incur any charges on the monthly contract.

Thanks I'll definitely check that out tomorrow. After spending all that time trying to get through to Virgin and getting no joy I'll definitely give them a call tomorrow ;D

mobilegossip

Before you do anything about moving to another supplier your need to give notice and get your (pac) porting code from Voda.

Any UK Mobile ,network will allow you to recieve Texts free in USA not just O2.