what to do when you get a phone call from your own number

Detect out how to switch to your new provider

Getting a new phone is exciting. Having a new phone number, however, can exist a bit of a chore.

For starters, you'll probably need to text everyone in your address book to tell them you've got a new number. Unless you regularly choose your contacts list, this will almost certainly go you a few replies from people you hoped you'd lost impact with.

The good news is you can avoid all that hassle by transferring your existing number to your new telephone. This is called porting your mobile number.

To keep your mobile number and transfer information technology to another network, you demand to request what's called a Porting Authorisation Code (PAC) from your old provider and so permit your new provider know the code. They will then schedule the switch.

Read on for a pace-by-step guide to keeping your mobile number and how to use a PAC code.

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How practice I transfer my mobile number?

A guide to switching mobile phone provider

1. Telephone call or text your current provider to request a mobile PAC code

A PAC code should be given to you immediately over the phone or within two hours past text. This fourth dimension frame is stipulated by the telecommunications regulator. So if you don't go it, y'all've got cause to complain.

To prevent someone stealing your number, networks will want to verify your identity. So expect to exist asked some questions and have the relevant data to-hand that'll assistance you to answer speedily.

PAC codes are usually fabricated up of nine digits and will exist valid for thirty days. If time runs out before you lot've had a chance to use the code you lot were supplied with, yous'll need to asking a new PAC from your existing mobile provider.

Calls to networks to get your PAC lawmaking are charged at standard rates.

If the above seems like a bit of a hassle and y'all just want a clean switch without having to speak to your existing provider, new government regulations have made the whole process a lot easier.

Text to Switch is simple. All you demand to do is text PAC to 65075 and yous'll become your code straight away, you don't fifty-fifty have to make a phone phone call.

Want to find out more? Bank check out our handy Text to Switch guide.

2. Contact your new network and give them the PAC code

When you lot provide your PAC code to a new network, the cancellation process volition begin automatically with your sometime network.

One time your new network has the lawmaking, it volition go in touch with the network y'all're leaving to tell them near the number transfer and volition schedule the switch.

This will normally be for the next working day. In the interim, go on your old SIM carte in your phone and then you tin continue to utilise it to make calls and send texts.

If a weekend gets in the fashion, the procedure of porting your number may have longer.

Simply by and large, if you supply a carrier with a PAC Code on Fri, Sabbatum or Lord's day, you lot can await the number transfer to be completed on the following Tuesday.

3. Check the SIM works in your phone and the new number has ported across

To do this, just place the SIM in your handset and brand a phone call. Or ask someone to give you a ring.

Alternatively, if yous're not fussed about keeping your phone number and want to switch with a fresh starting time, text 75075 and yous'll go your Service Termination Dominance Code (STAC). This ends your contract and leaves you free to switch to a new provider.

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Contact numbers to get your PAC code from your network

Text to switch isn't for everyone. And then if you lot'd rather speak to your provider on the phone, you tin can e'er give them a call. We've included a range of options, depending on whether you're ringing from a landline, your mobile phone or from overseas.

You tin as well get information about switching networks, and Text to Switch, past texting 85075.

Get your PAC code from EE

Call 150 from an EE mobile phone
Call 079 5396 6250 from any other phone (mobile or landline)

Go your PAC code from Three

Telephone call 333 from a Iii phone
Call 033 3338 1001 from any other phone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from O2

Call 202 from an O2 phone
Phone call 034 4809 0222 from whatsoever other phone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC lawmaking from Virgin Mobile

Phone call 789 from a Virgin Mobile telephone
Telephone call 034 5600 0789 from any other phone (mobile or landline)

Become your PAC code from Vodafone

Call 191 from a Vodafone telephone
Telephone call 033 3304 0191 from any other phone (mobile or landline)

Become your PAC code from BT Mobile

Call 150 from a BT Mobile phone
Call 0800 800 150 from any other telephone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from Plusnet Mobile

Call 500 from a Plusnet Mobile phone
Telephone call 080 0013 2632 from any other phone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC lawmaking from ID Mobile

Call 7777 from an ID Mobile telephone
Call 033 3003 7777 from any other telephone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from Tesco Mobile

Call 4455 from a Tesco Mobile phone
Call 034 5301 4455 from whatever other phone (mobile or landline)

Get your PAC code from Sky Mobile

Call 033 0041 2639 from Sky Mobiles, phones registered to other networks and landlines

Get your PAC code from giffgaff

giffgaff doesn't operate customer support helplines. However, you can get a PAC lawmaking from giffgaff by mailing them using giffgaff's contact form.

VOXI

VOXI is aimed at nether 30s. So information technology'southward no surprise that y'all can only contact the network via Twitter, web chat and Facebook Messenger. To go your PAC lawmaking, head to VOXI's contact page.

SMARTY

SMARTY doesn't have whatever customer service helplines. To get your PAC code, log into your SMARTY business relationship.

Lebara

Band 5588 from your Lebara mobile. Rates are charged at 19p per call.

Ring 020 7031 0791 from all other networks or from your landline.

Ecotalk

Ring 033 3800 5500 from any Great britain mobile or landline.

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Common questions when transferring your mobile phone number

Still got some queries near keeping your phone number? We field some of the near often asked questions in this section.

Will I lose service?

The porting process is designed to minimise the fourth dimension you'll be without a service.

Afterwards you've supplied your new network with the PAC lawmaking, your erstwhile number volition remain active. That ways yous'll still receive calls and texts.

When the number transfer is actually beingness washed, withal, your service may become down for a very short time. Information technology'south usually a few minutes.

When that happens, information technology should but be a case of turning off and restarting your handset for total service to return.

Tin I transfer a disconnected number?

You cannot transfer disconnected numbers, so do non cancel your existing contract if you wish to port your mobile number.

What happens if my PAC code expires?

In the event that you don't become around to using your PAC code within the 30-solar day deadline for usage, in that location's zero to worry most.

But you volition have to contact the network you're leaving to request another PAC lawmaking, which you lot can so utilize to transfer your number.

How practise I transfer my apps, music and games to my new phone?

If you've read the walkthrough above, yous'll now know what y'all've got to do to port your existing number to the network you lot're joining.

Merely, of form, when buying a new phone you're probably going to transfer all your apps, games, movies, music and settings from your sometime telephone too.

That'll hateful making a back-up of your current telephone, then setting up your new telephone using the redundancy.

To assistance you lot, nosotros talk you through the process with our one-stop guides:

Backing upward data from an iPhone.
Bankroll upwardly data from an Android phone

How do I transfer my contacts to my new phone?

using phone

Inputting hundreds of contact details into a new phone is no-ane's idea of fun.

To make sure that's not a plight that affects you, it'southward critical that y'all back upward your contacts that are on your old SIM earlier you start using your new i.

The first step is to check whether your contacts are saved on your SIM or on your phone.

The sure fire way to do this is to simply accept your SIM out. If you lot can nevertheless encounter your contacts, information technology means they're saved on your phone. Tin can't see them? That means they're on the SIM.

Assuming they're saved on the phone that y'all'll no longer be using, you'll need to back them upward. We'd recommend using a cloud storage service. Or, if you've got an Android phone, you might exist able to use a microSD carte du jour.

In the upshot that they're stored on the phone and you're keeping your old phone and just switching to a new SIM only bargain on a new network, y'all don't need to do anything. Merely input the new SIM in your phone and your contacts volition be there.

If they're stored on your SIM, you'll demand to transfer them and so they're stored on your phone.

This is easy plenty to do. Just head to the settings section of your handset and you should notice an option to 'copy contacts' or 'import contacts'.

I've heard I can asking my PAC lawmaking by text message. Is that correct?

It is. As we mentioned earlier, as of 1st July 2019, you lot can request your PAC code just by sending a text message to 65075.

The telecoms regulator has introduced the 'Text to Switch' system with the intention of streamlining the switching process.

The primal advantage is that you lot'll no longer take to telephone your provider and speak to a sales rep from the network you're leaving, whose job it is to persuade you to stay.

Demand some more help switching network? You'll find lots of like shooting fish in a barrel-to-follow, crystal-articulate advice on our guide to changing network.

Porting your mobile number when ownership online

Buying online

If you lot are ownership your new mobile online, yous should still be able to port your mobile number using the following simple steps:

Request your PAC lawmaking from your existing network and make a note of it.
Select a mobile handset and network tariff combination that suits you and order online.
You will be sent your phone once you take passed any necessary credit checks.
Get connected by following the instructions that come with your new mobile.
Once continued, you will have a temporary mobile number.
Contact your new network or service provider quoting your temporary number, the number you wish to Port and the PAC provided by your old network.
Your existing number will then be transferred within a few working days, sometimes even the next working 24-hour interval.

"I've used uswitch twice to renew BT broadband and internet and twice to renew my phone contract and extremely happy on all 4 occasions.

"The mobile renew on both occasions I've placed my guild. From placing my order to changing networks and collecting my phone has been less than 24 hours and again it's been cheaper for the exact same service offered from Three and Vodaphone practise themselves. Highly recommend never had a problem and it's very quick, cheaper and hassle costless."

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Source: https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/porting-your-mobile-phone-number/