Moving to USA, keeping number for when I return?

Blinkz · 3 Apr 2006 at 20:24

Hey guys,
I'm currently with Orange as a contract customer paying £25 a month. On 24th April I'm going to be going to the USA for 5 months. Obviously am not going to take my phone/try and use it there as it will cost a fortune. While I'm away I don't want to have to pay £25 a month as I won't be using my phone, I thought about just cancelling the contract however this means I'll lose my number and I'd rather not as I've had it for years and would really like to keep it. Whats the easiest/cheapest way to keep the number? Thanks in advance.

Tomsk · 3 Apr 2006 at 20:58

If you cancel your contract, you may have to pay the remainder. If there's more than five months left, you might as well keep the contract going.

You could try changing to a cheaper monthly contract.

If it is worthwhile to cancel the contract, take the number onto PAYG.

Blinkz · 3 Apr 2006 at 21:46

thanks for the reply, I've had the phone for over a year so its not in the year contract anymore. Could I just call orange and get them to change it to a Pay as u go mobile? or do i need to buy a new phone etc.

smokedog · 3 Apr 2006 at 22:49

Just call orange and say you want to move to PAYG. They will send you a new Sim. You activate the new PAYG Sim and that's it.

tom_e · 3 Apr 2006 at 22:51

yep thats what ive just done then when you come back get a new contract and ask them to move the number back over

Dolph · 3 Apr 2006 at 23:23

There is another option, temporary disconnection. As long as you've been online for at least 6 months, you can request a short break in your contract (between 3 and 6 months) where you won't pay line rental, the line will be disconnected and then reconnected at the end of it as before.

However, as you're out of contract, changing to PAYG then back to contract is another good option, although the transfer to PAYG takes 30 days, and you would need to be able to make the call to register the PAYG sim card when it arrives.