How Can I (Cheaply) Ensure My UK Phone Number Is Not Reassigned Whilst Living Abroad?

[Perry2]

Hello all, 

I hope someone here might have the knowledge help me.

I am currently in the UK and have an o2 pay-as-you go sim card. I am about to spend an extended period in Singapore - perhaps for a year or more. However, I do not wish to lose my UK number, and would like to be able to use my sim card when back in the UK, such as when briefly visiting. 

I have heard conflicting information about how quickly my sim card will expire through inactivity and risk my phone number being reassigned to someone else. I have heard claims ranging from: I can keep my sim card active simply by making any chargeable transaction (e.g. a text) every 6 month, - to someone else saying that I must top-up my credit every 2 months.

So what's the truth here? I've looked and been unable to find any official written information about this. I'd like to avoid paying excessively whilst out of the country to keep my number.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Thank you

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

@Perry2 

A chargeable CALL once every 6 months.

If you have a bundle, this will mean you will have to top up to make a call, if on classic, you can make the call from your credit.

[Perry2]

Thank you very much for your guidance MI5, I really appreciate it

Do you know if this is declared in writing somewhere - for example a terms and conditions web page? Or this is just something you remember from past experience? Regardless, thank you either way.

Perry

[Bambino]

@Perry2 Here's some reading for you: O2 | Mobile Terms and Conditions - On Pay As You Go Our Service Terms Are Worth A Read

[MI5]

@Perry2 

The O2 T&C's don't take into account the different types of tariffs so can be confusing.

The advice I gave you is my own from experience and is in no way official O2 advice.

[Bambino]

@Perry2 From the link I posted above:

7. Our Rights to Bar or Disconnect Your Mobile Phone

• 7.1. If you do not carry out any chargeable activity at least once in any 6 month period your Mobile Phone will be disconnected and you will lose any remaining credits balance on your Account. If you wish to be re-connected after this time you will be given a new Mobile Phone number

[Anonymous]

 A chargeable call? 

If you are on a PAYG bundle and never make a call/text or use data that is not included in your bundle, do you actually ever make a chargeable call? 🤔... 

[MI5]

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@Anonymous wrote:

 A chargeable call? 

If you are on a PAYG bundle and never make a call/text or use data that is not included in your bundle, do you actually ever make a chargeable call? 🤔... 

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You have to top up if on a bundle to make a call so you've been "charged" for making it.

Hence my comment about T&C's not being tariff specific and therefore, confusing.

[Anonymous]

Well this is true, as I never make any chargeable calls outside my bundle. So another point of interest is: Does the 6 months start from the time you purchased the last bundle, or when you made your last call/text/data, or the expiry of the bundle (As every day of the bundle is chargeable in an increment as you pay the same if you use nothing at all)   

[MI5]

Texts and data no longer count. It has to be a call.

I guess if you topped up and didn't make a call, it would be 6 months from the top up date.

If you made a call in that month, it would be 6 months from the date of the call, although obviously you would need to top up again anyway to make a call in 6 months time.