O2 PAYG phone swap problems

Telegraph_Sam

It seems to be all but impossible to contact O2 at present. Website down and no access to customer services by phone.
I have an old G2 [Doro] PAYG unlocked mobile phone on O2's network which has served its basic purpose admirably over the years but now it looks like there is a faulty charging connection.  I have therefore ordered a new Doro, also unlocked. The difference is I believe that the original phone has a "Mini" SIM card and the new model has a "Micro" SIM card, and the two are not interchangeable even though the latter claims to be "universal".  Whilst transferring contacts manually, if necessary, would be a hassle but do-able, I do want to keep the same phone number and ideally stay on the same O2 PAYG tariff.  I was told that all it needed was a call to O2 to request an activated SIM card to be put into the new phone and the change would go into effect.  But being unable to contact O2 makes this much more difficult. Is this a lost cause until O2 solve their problems?  Or could I switch to another network and still keep the old number without contacting O2?
Another solution might be to put a call divert onto the old phone but I have not attempted this in the past.
Any guidance along "what would you do if you were me?" lines would be much appreciated!

Cisco001

I will cut the sim manually. (I did it before and it works)
Plenty of video on youtube.
Check it out yourself.

Telegraph_Sam

You are obviously way ahead of me on this.  I had a quick look at a video.  I would be scared of doing it inexpertly and ending up with a SIM that didn't work in either phone!  It depends on how idiot proof the operation is - is it possible for example to "confuse" the width and the length dims when cutting?  If something can go wrong it certainly will!

Telegraph_Sam

I suppose that if you purchase an unlocked mobile it has no pre-assigned telephone provider but you seek and apply for whichever service takes your fancy (any recommendations for PAYG > UK?)   I believe that I read somewhere that there is some kind of a procedure for "(im)porting" your existing phone number from one network to the other. But presumably the original provider has to be a. contactable, and b. in agreement - in other words it cannot all happen in isolation with just the new mobile service provider?

JJ_Egan

I did a swap sim via web site a couple of months back . Sent out new sim within a few days .

But their is a lockdown and staff shortages across many services at present .

Telegraph_Sam

That would be ideal - if the O2 web site was up and running.  I did get through by phone briefly yesterday at the very end only to be told that the dept I needed to speak to had closed for the day.

eDicky

If I were you, and if on O2 Classic PAYG tariff, I would certainly hang on to it as it's no longer available for new customers, and nothing else currently available so cheap.

If unable to order a new SIM online (which will require some verification that it's your account), I would cut down my SIM from mini to micro, and if not confident to do it by hand then spend a fiver or so on eBay for a SIM card cutter. Normally a little shop or market stall could do it for you but probably not at this time.

Copy your contacts from handset to SIM, if not already there.

It's now a simple process to port your number to another network, by a shortcode text, I forget the details but it's easy to find them.

Telegraph_Sam

What you say about the Classic tariff confirms what O2 told me.
With my DIY record I'd be reluctant to do anything involving terminal cutting unless really desperate. I'd be more keen on your shortcode text solution if I could find it.
I'm not sure if my contacts are stored in my handset or in the SIM.  How do I copy from one to the other? It's a very basic non-smart G2 Doro 409/410 I believe.

Telegraph_Sam

It seems to be a lost cause to communicate with O2 at all, either via customer services or via anything associated with and including their web site. Even the "O2 Community". I was wondering if there was any email address I could use in the hope of getting through to Customer Services directly, short-circuiting the web site. And/or using your "shortcode text" solution which might need some explaining please for the uninitiated in such matters !

eDicky

You can get an O2 PAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text PAC to 65075 to receive a PAC Code from O2.

https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/pac-code/o2-keep-number

Telegraph_Sam

Thanks very helpful.  I'm not sure that the various options listed in your attachment fit my circs precisely - I want to switch phones WITHIN O2 by requesting a duplicate SIM card - but may be one of them and/or your 65075 option would somehow do it.  The problem is that as long as O2 is non-contactable nothing may happen...   I could send the text request from my existing mobile, or from a quite separate mobile (also O2) which might not work because it would not identify the correct SIM to send.  And a PAC code by itself is only half the story when what I need is a second SIM.   I'm getting out of my depth!