Swapping SIM cards

StayinAlive

I am shortly going to replace my existing O2 Classic PAYG sim with a giffgaff and transfer the number over. I guess that will leave the O2 sim "numberless".

I was then hoping to put the O2 sim into my backup mobile but how do I get a number assigned to it?

PHK

When you port out the SIM is deactivated, what's called not provisioned. 

I don't know if O2 will be able to reactivate it and assign a number. You'd need to call them.

Edit: I doubt you'll be able to stay on Classic PAYG, if the SIM is reactivated then it will be on a current tariff. This because the tariff is attached to the account not the SIM. 

Adly812

Wouldn’t it be easier to port to giff gaff and then get another sim for the back up mobile . You can get pretty cheap sim only deals 

flaneurs_lobster

Adly812 said:

Wouldn’t it be easier to port to giff gaff and then get another sim for the back up mobile . You can get pretty cheap sim only deals 

O2 Classic PAYG SIMs still available on eBay, 99p (incl postage!). 

savergrant

flaneurs_lobster said:

Adly812 said:

Wouldn’t it be easier to port to giff gaff and then get another sim for the back up mobile . You can get pretty cheap sim only deals 

O2 Classic PAYG SIMs still available on eBay, 99p (incl postage!). 

However you may find that if you activate a new sim the rules on keeping it active may be different to the rules on your existing sim. So I would be very cautious about porting your number from your existing o2 sim as you may find yourself worse off.

StayinAlive

Still mulling it over - thanks for suggestions. Agreed, probably simplest to get another Classic PAYG via eBay but I'm a bit unconventional. Would this work..........?

O2 sim in phone 1

giffgaff sim in phone 2

Text PAC to 65075 simultaniously from each to get code

Contact each network individually (not sure how yet) to transfer service

Swap sims over

flaneurs_lobster

StayinAlive said:

Still mulling it over - thanks for suggestions. Agreed, probably simplest to get another Classic PAYG via eBay but I'm a bit unconventional. Would this work..........?

I think that there's every chance that it would all go to ratpoop. 

If your existing phone number is of importance then I wouldn't be complicating things any more than necessary - anecdotally it does seem that PAC swaps fail more often when the same parent network is used.

PHK

StayinAlive said:

Still mulling it over - thanks for suggestions. Agreed, probably simplest to get another Classic PAYG via eBay but I'm a bit unconventional. Would this work..........?

O2 sim in phone 1

giffgaff sim in phone 2

Text PAC to 65075 simultaniously from each to get code

Contact each network individually (not sure how yet) to transfer service

Swap sims over

That’s not going to work at all. Using a PAC closes the account and deactivates the SIM. 

Adly812

Personally never had an issue changing providers and porting my number over to them, has been seamless each time 

savergrant

StayinAlive said:

Still mulling it over - thanks for suggestions. Agreed, probably simplest to get another Classic PAYG via eBay but I'm a bit unconventional. Would this work..........?

O2 sim in phone 1

giffgaff sim in phone 2

Text PAC to 65075 simultaniously from each to get code

Contact each network individually (not sure how yet) to transfer service

Swap sims over

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
What you could try is ordering another o2 sim then adding it to the same account and ask o2 to swap the tariffs in-house. You would then be able to port your old o2 number from your old o2 sim and keep your new o2 sim with the new number on your old tariff.
IF o2 are feeling helpful and competent that is..

savergrant

Adly812 said:

Personally never had an issue changing providers and porting my number over to them, has been seamless each time 

There are lots of testimonies regarding split ports, particularly with mvnos and often switching from a major network to an mvno which uses the same network can lead to problems. And of course according to Vodafone Customer service you can't port from Vodafone to one of their mvnos...