PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => Mobile Phones & Other Handheld Devices => Topic started by: Clive on July 31, 2023, 19:44
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I plan to ditch my 02 network when my contract expires in October. I'm looking for one with free roaming in Europe, WiFi phoning and obviously good coverage. I remember finding a really good comparison site some time ago but now for some reason I cannot find it.
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Aha! Found it!
https://www.portnumber.co.uk/transfer/mobile/from-O2/to-Lebara-Mobile#join
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Is there such a thing as free roaming, Clive?
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According to O2 yes. But I've always had big bills when I return from holiday. On their website it says I should download a free addon but when I attempt to do so it says I'm not allowed to have it with my package. So disingenuous! >:(
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Next question, can I keep my sim card and ask for a PAC number when I change providers or do I have to buy a new sim from the new network?
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You can get your PAC by texting 'PAC' to 65075 from the number you want to keep - you should get it in a minute or two. Alternatively, you can contact your old network to get your PAC. To transfer your O2 Pay As You Go number, you'll need to get a PAC (Porting Authorisation Code).
https://www.o2.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/leaving-o2
Your new provider will provide you with a new SIM card, which you swap over once the PAC has been activated. It can take up to 24 hours for the number to switch over to the new SIM.
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I was hoping I could keep the sim card. I'll phone them much nearer the time to see if I can get on a better tariff .
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Why do you need to keep the SIM card?
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To retain all my data etc.
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You mean contacts? Those can be transferred to the Phone memory.
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That's handy to know!
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I don't know what phone you've got, but even the most primitive have an option to either store numbers on the SIM card or in the phone memory. You should be able to copy them from the SIM to the Phone all in one go.
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It's an iPhone 13 but I shan't be upgrading anytime soon!
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Oh right, well in that case you should definitely be storing your contact details in the Phone memory.
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OK, so I understand it now. All my data is stored on the RAM in the phone and I can use any sim card. Then I have to change my phone number to the new sim card.
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Yes. Assuming the data from the old SIM card has been transferred to the Phone memory, it will stay on the phone when you swap to a new SIM. I don't know how to transfer contacts on an iPhone, but I know someone who does:
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202340
When you sign up with your new provider, they will send you a new SIM, which will obviously come with a phone number. During the process I expect you will have told them you want to keep your old number. Keep your old SIM in your phone and get the PAC code using the text number I mentioned before. Give the PAC code to the new provider, and the switching process will be activated. It's all usually done over texts and the new provider will give you all the instructions.
Keep your old SIM in the phone until the signal drops, then you can swap the new SIM into the phone and your number will have been transferred. You'll then get a series of messages from the new provider which will set up the network services on the phone, and that should be that.
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Just to add though, if you're happy with your current provider, it might be worth a phone call to see what sort of retention deal they will offer you. Bear in mind, Sky Mobile SIM only deals start at about £7 per month, and they use the O2 network, so if you're keeping your phone, and O2 won't match that, I'd be on the move.
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Mrs Clive's iPhone SE uses the sim card from our old Motorola phone which is a Tescomobile account which is O2. Yet her phone works where mine doesn't and her contract is just £19.99 a month including phone purchase. Many thanks for all the information!
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After suffering numerous scam phone calls purporting to to come from O2 I eventually decided to renew online for a sim only deal which I've had for just £4.10 a month.
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:thumb:
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I have unlimited calls and texts and 12Gb of data each month. Most of my data use is over WiFi of course.
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Sound too good to be true! They must be desperate to retain customers.
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I'll keep you informed!