Going Abroad but Retain o2 Number

[Anonymous]

Hello all. I have been with o2 for quite a number of years (around nine), and I have been on the same number for around five six of those. In Spetember 2013, I will be going abroad for around eight months as part of my university degree. It is roughly this time that my current 24 month contract will end.

Clearly, I am not going to renew the contract for something I will not be using for such an extended period of time, but is there any way I can retain my mobile number until my return in May 2014 and then enter in to a new contract? Or how about transfer to the number to a pay-and-go sim, and then back again when I return?

[Bambino · Accepted solution]

You could probably transfer it to a pay and go sim. I'm not sure how often you would have to top it up, or by how much, or even at all, but you should call Customer Services and ask. Make sure you do the transfer 30 days before your contract expires. Otherwise you go on to a one month rolling contact if you do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply, Bambino.

Just after I posted the message, a dialog box came up inviting me to chat to an o2 representative. They said I could transfer to a PAYG and keep topped-up every 90 days. Then, upon my return, sign up for a new contract. And, what's even better, is that any credit that is on the PAYG account wil be credited to the new contract!

[jonsie]

If you transfer your number to P&G you just need to make a chargeable call every 6 months to keep the account and number active. Top up I believe is every 999 days not 90 days.

[ComaChameleon]

Jonsie is right

That's from the o2-chat-thingy I asked:

"You're welcome. Your SIM/number will stay active if you make one chargeable call in every 6 months or Top Up in 999 days."