Options for keeping a UK number (price / convenience)

Phrozenpenguin

Phrozenpenguin

Phrozenpenguin

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I'm hoping someone might have input.

I've got a UK number on a UK sim card with Vodafone, that has been on contract for over a decade. I've dropped down to a sim only deal as I am now living overseas, but I'm wondering what the cheapest (and convenient) way is to maintain the number. I want to keep it in a handset so I can still receive messages e.g. from two factor auth stuff, and have the number if I travel back in the UK.

However, given I'm hardly using it for outgoing it stings a bit to keep having to pay the monthly rental. Could I move to PAYG (or is that awkward to topup) or does another network have other options? I'm living overseas now so a bit harder to check or know where the best deals are.
 
Phrozenpenguin said:
I'm hoping someone might have input.

I've got a UK number on a UK sim card with Vodafone, that has been on contract for over a decade. I've dropped down to a sim only deal as I am now living overseas, but I'm wondering what the cheapest (and convenient) way is to maintain the number. I want to keep it in a handset so I can still receive messages e.g. from two factor auth stuff, and have the number if I travel back in the UK.

However, given I'm hardly using it for outgoing it stings a bit to keep having to pay the monthly rental. Could I move to PAYG (or is that awkward to topup) or does another network have other options? I'm living overseas now so a bit harder to check or know where the best deals are.
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Where are you living?

I live in Cyprus, and it's so much cheaper for me to have a UK contract than PAYG/Contract here. Now being able to use all your calls/data etc, it's easy.
 
Thanks. I'm in Australia so unlikely to get free roaming. Will check out the dormant times and how easy it is to top up from out of the country. How is the porting process - smooth and quick or tiresome with the need to visit stores etc?
 
Phrozenpenguin said:
Thanks. I'm in Australia so unlikely to get free roaming. Will check out the dormant times and how easy it is to top up from out of the country. How is the porting process - smooth and quick or tiresome with the need to visit stores etc?
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You request the PAC code from Voda, they should be able to text you it, you give it to three when you get your SIM after its activated and then they let you know when the number will switch over to their network. (Just got to fill this form out, https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Number_Port)

PS - Looks like Aus is included in the Feel at Home area http://www.three.co.uk/support/roaming/australia so you might be able to get a contract on Three to use over there that will also work here (without the need to switch or have a seperate SIM for each country. Exceptions for calling an AUS number from your Three SIM, the rest of the charges looks the same as the UK).
 
moogle said:
Port the number to three and get their PAYG 3-2-1 sim (3p/min, 2p/txt and 1p/MB of data)
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was looking at 3 which seems much cheaper than asda 8p/min.
However for 3, happened to see
If you roam exclusively in a Feel At Home destination for any 2 complete months in a rolling 12 month period, we may suspend international roaming on your account, which means you'll no longer be able to use your device or allowances abroad. We'd let you know if this were likely to happen first. If you spend a full month abroad but some of that time is spent in a destination that isn't included in Feel At Home, this restriction won't apply.
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so probably no good living in Cyprus ? also is 3's coverage in the UK any good ? (compared to Asda say)

I have not looked at Asda, for similar roaming clauses
[I live in Uk and was comparing asda and 3 for PAYG]

edit : should have read thread , 2 month limit already remarked
yes asda has same limitation
Don’t worry as long as you are based in the UK and spend the majority of time in the UK in any four month period you will be able to roam in Europe without being charged extra.
If there is minimal usage in the UK we may restrict your account, don’t worry we will be in contact with you before we do anything.
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ASDA is Vodafone IIRC. I thought it might be too good to be true. Shame that the at home service isn't like that but I guess it's to be expected.
It's a difficult one really, you'd need to find the cheapest SIM roaming prices. I remember my Dad took his ASDA SIM abroad, and someone rang him from the UK. Wiped his £10 credit fast!
 
least effort - move it to PAYG (you can just do this over the chat with voda if you like, wont even need to change SIMs) give it £10 credit (can be done online), use that to receive sms and be done with it. as long as it's got credit / receiving stuff the networks wont take the number back etc...
 
Myshra said:
least effort - move it to PAYG (you can just do this over the chat with voda if you like, wont even need to change SIMs) give it £10 credit (can be done online), use that to receive sms and be done with it. as long as it's got credit / receiving stuff the networks wont take the number back etc...
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When I rang Voda a while ago about this they wanted me to go into a branch (which is difficult) and change SIMs to a new physical one which they wanted to charge me for. I will give Vodafone another go incase they can now do it without changing physical SIM.

How often and how easy to top it up with credit is the question, as I don't want it to lapse.
 
top up online is easy with, for GiffGaff I currently use.
an IPphone number might be a cheaper way to get the 2 factor auth you need (whether it is as secure)

You probbaly saw that even for vodaphone direct
Is there a fair usage policy?
Yes. Roam-free is intended for periodic travel. It isn’t meant for users roaming on a semi-permanent or permanent basis.

We’ll send you a text requesting you moderate your usage in our Roam-free destinations if you use them for a total of 2 months or more during any 4-month period. If your usage in any of our Roam-free destinations continues to exceed this allowance after a 2-week period from which you first received this text, we may charge you for further use or bar your roaming services. We’ll always let you know before we do this.
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but if you are already with them, and they did not complain, should still be ok on payg.

edit: changing sim at all, maybe difficult(impossible ?) without a UK visit ?
 
Begbie said:
Where are you living?

I live in Cyprus, and it's so much cheaper for me to have a UK contract than PAYG/Contract here. Now being able to use all your calls/data etc, it's easy.
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Three disabled roaming after living abroad for 2 years.
 
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