Moving abroad and keeping my UK number.

Mind_Overload

I'm moving to Cambodia for approx one year next month. My Sim only deal with Three network is out of contract next week. I called them and said I want to change to PAYG, but their best offer for me to keep my number was £8 one month rolling contract.
I noticed Gifgaff have £5 with no contract.

I will get a local Cambodian number while there, but is there any cheap way to keep my UK number running? I would also use for whats app etc, and like to keep the number so when I return.

Can I just change to PAYG, is this possible? In theory I will not be spending any money on the sim. But I want to keep it live, maybe send a text each month. Are phone companies obliged to let me change to PAYG knowing I will barely use the sim.

Thanks

HappyMJ

Get a PAYG SIM and port your number to it. Any one will do. I'd go with a big network such as EE, Vodafone or O2. It's unlikely they'll go out of business. Smaller MVNO's might go out of business while you aren't here. Keep the SIM in a phone and make a chargeable text/call every 3/6 months and it will stay live.

Mind_Overload

Ok, thanks guys.

Should I order a PAYG sim 1st then contact my current mobile provider to port my number to it?

Apologies for all the basic questions, I'm a bit clueless when we move out of the usual contracted phone talk.

Thanks

HappyMJ

marcus-darkus wrote: »

Ok, thanks guys.

Should I order a PAYG sim 1st then contact my current mobile provider to port my number to it?

Apologies for all the basic questions, I'm a bit clueless when we move out of the usual contracted phone talk.

Thanks

I would ask for a PAC now and tomorrow you can pick up a SIM from Poundland. If you can find a specially marked pack then £1 gives you a SIM with £5 of included credit which if used wisely can last you a year.

Some time in the next 28/30 days you then ring the new supplier and port your number over with the PAC number you got today.

Mind_Overload

Appreciate your help.

J_B

When DD2 went to study abroad for a year, she phoned Three and asked to be put onto their sim-zero* contract - it's the same as PAYG, but you pay a bill in arrears rather than paying up front and worrying about having enough credit or whether the phone will remain active after X months of inactivity.

* - not sure if this is still available

d123

HappyMJ wrote: »

I would ask for a PAC now and tomorrow you can pick up a SIM from Poundland. If you can find a specially marked pack then £1 gives you a SIM with £5 of included credit which if used wisely can last you a year.

Some time in the next 28/30 days you then ring the new supplier and port your number over with the PAC number you got today.

Why does he need a PAC? if he just wants PAYG then Three offer one of the best on the market with 3-2-1.

All the OP has to do is phone 333 and ask them to convert his number to PAYG at the end of his notice period.

Edit
@JB
I don't think Three have offered sim zero for at least a few years now.

diamonds

Vectone pay monthly from £1 or payg.

Can also download on Android, iOS & Windows PC Vectone apps and use your UK number and allowances over wifi with these apps abroad.

J_B

d123 wrote: »

@JB
I don't think Three have offered sim zero for at least a few years now.

It was Sept 2012 when 'we' did this.

d123

J_B wrote: »

It was Sept 2012 when 'we' did this.

From memory they stopped it in early 2013, so you just made it .

Ant555

d123 wrote: »

Why does he need a PAC? if he just wants PAYG then Three offer one of the best on the market with 3-2-1.

Because the OP said this " I called them and said I want to change to PAYG, but their best offer for me to keep my number was £8 one month rolling contract."

It might be that the person at Three is wrong and it is indeed possible to switch but at the moment the OP has been told by Three the only option is to move elsewhere to retain the number and go PAYG.
Also, it doesn't appear that a 'best deal' is absolutely necessary as the main use is going to be to use WhatsApp, presumably over wifi, and not to make any calls/texts apart from three or four per year to keep it alive.