UK SIM deactivated while overseas – can I get my old number back?

am.jovial

My roommate had a UK PAYG SIM, but he had to leave the UK for a few months due to health issues. During that time, he couldn’t keep track of his phone usage, and the service provider ended up deactivating and cancelling his SIM.

Now he’s still abroad and trying to get the same number reactivated since it’s linked to his bank accounts, pension, and other important services. However, the provider says it’s not possible to recover that number.

Is that really the case? Are there any ways to get the same number back to avoid the hassle of updating all his records with a new one?

Also, if the number gets reassigned to someone else, could that pose a security or scam risk for him?

Lastly, since he can’t visit the UK for a few more months, can he request a new UK eSIM and update his number with the banks remotely, or would that require an in-person visit?

Thank you for the help.

marcia_

am.jovial said:

My roommate had a UK PAYG SIM, but he had to leave the UK for a few months due to health issues. During that time, he couldn’t keep track of his phone usage, and the service provider ended up deactivating and cancelling his SIM.

Now he’s still abroad and trying to get the same number reactivated since it’s linked to his bank accounts, pension, and other important services. However, the provider says it’s not possible to recover that number.

Is that really the case? Are there any ways to get the same number back to avoid the hassle of updating all his records with a new one?

Also, if the number gets reassigned to someone else, could that pose a security or scam risk for him?

Lastly, since he can’t visit the UK for a few more months, can he request a new UK eSIM and update his number with the banks remotely, or would that require an in-person visit?

Thank you for the help.

 No he can not get the number back and needs to update his phone number with all relevant authorities ASAP as yes he is open to scams snd fraud 

flaneurs_lobster

Activating a new UK eSIM (or a physical SIM) while overseas can be problematic. Some operators allow it, most don't. Would have to be verified with the individual network providers.

At the very least your pal should be contacting his bank etc and removing the old number from their records/access methods - this is when you find out how good the backup access controls are when a mobile number isn't available.

Ayr_Rage

Your friend will not be able to recover their number.

I'd be logging in to all my accounts and making sure my recovery details that do not involve my mobile number are up to date first.

If he has app-based accounts then the device may still be "trusted" if he has not attempted to change his number and there may be options to use the apps for authorisation and recovery emails to keep things going.

Hopefully he knows all his passwords too.

I've just set up a new laptop and even that has been a right royal pain to get the device trusted on sites I have used for many years.

born_again

marcia_ said:

am.jovial said:

My roommate had a UK PAYG SIM, but he had to leave the UK for a few months due to health issues. During that time, he couldn’t keep track of his phone usage, and the service provider ended up deactivating and cancelling his SIM.

Now he’s still abroad and trying to get the same number reactivated since it’s linked to his bank accounts, pension, and other important services. However, the provider says it’s not possible to recover that number.

Is that really the case? Are there any ways to get the same number back to avoid the hassle of updating all his records with a new one?

Also, if the number gets reassigned to someone else, could that pose a security or scam risk for him?

Lastly, since he can’t visit the UK for a few more months, can he request a new UK eSIM and update his number with the banks remotely, or would that require an in-person visit?

Thank you for the help.

 No he can not get the number back and needs to update his phone number with all relevant authorities ASAP as yes he is open to scams snd fraud 

Which would be so slim as to not be a issue. Due to the old number being assigned to a random person who will have no idea who the previous owner was, or what accounts might have been linked to the number.

Also they may face major issues trying to update any details while out of the UK with bank. Especially if they had not updated them with details of where they were living while away.

Jon_01

born_again said:

marcia_ said:

am.jovial said:

My roommate had a UK PAYG SIM, but he had to leave the UK for a few months due to health issues. During that time, he couldn’t keep track of his phone usage, and the service provider ended up deactivating and cancelling his SIM.

Now he’s still abroad and trying to get the same number reactivated since it’s linked to his bank accounts, pension, and other important services. However, the provider says it’s not possible to recover that number.

Is that really the case? Are there any ways to get the same number back to avoid the hassle of updating all his records with a new one?

Also, if the number gets reassigned to someone else, could that pose a security or scam risk for him?

Lastly, since he can’t visit the UK for a few more months, can he request a new UK eSIM and update his number with the banks remotely, or would that require an in-person visit?

Thank you for the help.

 No he can not get the number back and needs to update his phone number with all relevant authorities ASAP as yes he is open to scams snd fraud 

Which would be so slim as to not be a issue. Due to the old number being assigned to a random person who will have no idea who the previous owner was, or what accounts might have been linked to the number.

Also they may face major issues trying to update any details while out of the UK with bank. Especially if they had not updated them with details of where they were living while away.

Also, unless things have changed since I worked for one of the networks, the old number won't be reissued for at least 6 months.  Usually a lot longer.

am.jovial

He tried setting up a new Royal Mail redirection for his post, but it kept failing with errors :
"Your payment has been declined. Please try again. Your purchase has not been completed and you have not been charged".

We’ll reach out to Royal Mail, but getting them on the phone is nearly impossible and they rarely respond to emails.

The idea behind the redirection was simple - if any mail related to the new SIM card arrives, it should reach his friend’s address.

So the plan is: set up the redirection first, get an e-SIM, and then update the banks and others about the new number.

Honestly, not sure how UK citizens living abroad for long periods manage all this. Flying back just to sort this out is costly and quite impractical.

Thanks for help.

flaneurs_lobster

am.jovial said:

Honestly, not sure how UK citizens living abroad for long periods manage all this. Flying back just to sort this out is costly and quite impractical.

It's hard if you are trying to live in two countries at the same time. UK bank accounts and UK phone services are designed to be run by someone resident in the UK - with periods abroad as exceptions, and vice versa. 

The solution is to have residency (or whatever it's called) at the overseas domicile and then open bank accounts/get mobile services locally. 

Is all this complication just to get a new UK SIM activated (which then gets shipped to "over there")? Be aware that extended roving will probably be a breach of their terms and could well get the service revoked.

There are international SIMs that don't suffer this fate - they are very expensive.