Retrieving an old phone number

[Bigwill]

Hi, is it possible to get my number back? I was cut off 2 years ago and the number is no longer associated with the sim. Is it possible to request this specific number back on a new sim? Do I have to wait until someone is assigned it and then try to bribe them into swapping numbers?

[Cleoriff · Accepted solution]

I think that number will be reassigned by now @Bigwill 

You can ask I suppose. Just message O2 on Facebook ( https://o2uk.co/O2CFB) , Twitter ( https://o2uk.co/O2CTW) or Instagram ( https://o2uk.co/O2CIG)

[Bigwill]

Hi, thanks for reply, I was told they can't reassign it for 3 years after which it'll be put into a pool of available numbers which can be used by providers. I keep calling it and it still says number not recognized so I'm still hopeful. Thanks will try Twitter.

[pgn]

That's a good question @Bigwill - unlike UK car registration plates and the ads in the back pages of the Sunday papers, I don't know how one appropriates or acquires a specific phone number - new SIMs come with a use-by date, after which time the number on it goes back into the pool of unused numbers if it is not in service.

 - Have you checked if your number is in use? If it is, you may be stuck.

If it isn't, O2 my still have a record of it against your name - why not reach out to the O2 Social Media team as per this advice, or wait and see if another community forum member knows how to do it?

If you message O2 on 

Facebook (https://o2uk.co/O2CFB) , 

Twitter (https://o2uk.co/O2CTW) or 

Instagram (https://o2uk.co/O2CIG) , they may be able to help you with this

Good luck!