The Fixer: Orange to O2 number transfer

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This week, she explains how a reader can keep her current mobile number while switching her contract from Orange to O2.

Dear Fixer,
I have had a mobile phone contract with Orange for some years now. However, as it seems that I could save money by switching to O2, I recently contacted Orange to inform the company of my decision.

The woman I spoke to tried to convince me to stay with Orange, but I made it clear that I would be switching once my contract comes to an end later this month.

I am a bit worried about something she said about it being difficult to move my current mobile phone number across to O2, though.

Can Orange stop me taking my current phone number with me to O2? And how can I go about arranging the transfer if not?

M Duncan, Manchester

Dear Miss Duncan,
Orange cannot stop you taking your existing phone number with you to O2, especially if you are waiting until the end of your contract to make the switch (in which case there should also be no penalties to pay).

In fact, the only thing you need from Orange is a Port Authorisation Code or PAC, which must be given to O2 for the transfer to take place - usually within seven days of your call.

You will, however, need a SIM card, or a new phone with a SIM, from your new network - in this case O2.

If you are planning to keep your existing phone, you will also need to make sure the phone is unlocked and can accept the new O2 SIM.

Either way, information such as contacts that is stored on your old SIM should also be copied across before your number is transferred (either using your computer or by taking both SIMs into an O2 store and asking a member of staff to transfer the data for you).

Once the transfer has taken place, you may also need to register your old number as the primary one on your new account.

The Fixer

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