Porting out from O2 and back via payg sim

will-he-payitoff

Hi just ordered a new phone with contract from an independent because O2 wouldn't or couldn't match the deal. On O2 ATM sim only and wanting to keep my existing number. Can anyone please advise on the cheapest no hassle sim to achieve this.

PHK

When I was with O2 they would happily migrate a number from one contract to another with no need for porting out and in. They were the only provider to do this. Make sure you use the correct terminology  migrate not port .

will-he-payitoff

Thanks for that. I will give them a try today before I go down the other route.

Andy7856

You defiantly dont need to go down the other route. I did last month a O2 5GB to O2 10GB migrate  (at the same time reducing my bill) I was unable to upgrade online so ordered a new SIM only deal, oddly enough direct from O2 and then *** migrated *** the old number to the new SIM/tariff.  

Dont try it over a weekend through as you will lose access to the number (you want to keep) until it migrates across to the new SIM/tariff until the following business day.    Once migrated and your original number is back up and running, if the handset still shows the original number on the SIM card under phone/settings then just take out SIM and put back in to refresh.

will-he-payitoff

Andy so did you get a pac code from O2 and give the same pac code to O2? I didn't realise that you could do that.

PHK

Migration doesn't need a code. You just call them.

Andy7856

Per PHK, you defiantly don't need a PAC and to be honest it may confuse the O2 operator if you even mention it.  (PAC are for between networks moves). 

Just phone O2 tell them you wish to cancel your old contract, and move your existing number to the new contract.    Quote the numbers on the call so there is no mistake!

Within an hour or so, your old contract will be cancelled and SIM loses service, and your existing number will enter the ethos.    At this point you will then need to put in your new SIM (with the number you dont want)  and wait for the migration to happen.  I phoned on a Friday and the migration happened on Wednesday hence I say try not to do it so it falls over a weekend as it prolongs it by 2 more days  (O2 incorrectly advised me this would not be the case).   In this migration period you will have to be prepared for giving out the temporary (unwanted) number and OTP codes etc will not work (as will go to the number in the ethos).  

On the day of the migration the new SIM will lose signal, and you will need to reboot  Once that happens you should be up and running new SIM, new contract, but old existing number you wanted to keep will be associated to that SIM.  Will take a week or so before your MYo2 account reflects your correct number.  

That is how I did it very recently.

You should be fine...

will-he-payitoff

Well I tried calling them 5 times , 3 tines no answer after 50 mins. One call after 35 min of going through security and being put on hold they dropped the call. Last call was answered by someone in a call centre with so much background noise that O could not understand one word so I ended that call. Tried visiting local O2 shop where 3 of the staff were busy having a chat with each other got the reply nothing to do with us call customer services. At this point gave up and went the PAYG route .