Remember! If you are moving to a new network you must cancel your contract with your existing provider.
Apple iPhone Customers please note:
Existing O2 customers
If you are an existing O2 customer you do not require a PAC to upgrade to the iPhone 3G.
Please contact us on 0870 087 0870 to upgrade or go to your nearest Carphone Warehouse store.
New to O2
If you are moving from another network to O2, please contact your network to obtain a PAC.
If you wish to Port your number over to The Carphone Warehouse please read the FAQs below or alternatively please visit 'The guide to porting your mobile number' for further information.
If you would like to port more quickly please call us prior to placing an order to speak to a member of our team, as we can offer port dates two working days in the future over the phone.
Moving your phone number when you change your supplier of airtime is sometimes referred to as Mobile Number Portability or Migrations but we will refer to it here as a transfer.
The transfer process allows you to keep your mobile phone number(s) whether you want to:
- Change Network and Service Provider at the same time.
- Remain on the same Network and change Service Provider.
- Change Network and remain with the same Service Provider.
Desired network | ||||||
Orange | T-Mobile | 3 | O2 | BT Mobile | ||
Current network | Orange |  |  | |  | |
Vodafone | | | | | | |
T-Mobile | | | | | | |
3 | | | | | | |
O2 | | | | N/A | | |
BT Mobile | | | | | | |
Key
= Please call our E-Sales department to process your order = PAC code must be provided at point of sale, not available thereafter = PAC code provided to network after receipt of handset
If you wish to Port your number over to The Carphone Warehouse please give us a call on 0870 087 0870.
More about your PAC
- PAC stands for ‘Port Authorisation Code’. It’s what allows your current service provider to transfer your number to your new service provider.
- Your current service provider must give you a PAC (or tell you why they can’t give it to you) within two working days.
- Your PAC is valid for 30 days.
- You can give us your PAC when you sign up to a new contract in our stores, over the phone or online**.
FAQs
Is there any reason why my current service provider won’t give me a PAC?- They won’t give you a PAC if:
- your number is disconnected
- you haven’t completed your contract’s minimum term (if you want a PAC before your minimum term is over, you’ll need to pay a fee, which is usually your remaining line rental)
- No problem. As long as your number is still active, ask your current service provider for a PAC.
- Any credits with your current service provider will not be transferred to your new service provider.
- The port takes place between 9am and 6pm. During this time you may be without service for a short period.
- Some service providers may charge you a fee to transfer your number.
Talk to your current service provider about this.
- You can cancel the port up to three working days before your number is due to be ported. If you request a port in two working days, then you will not be able to cancel it.
- Your main handset number (primary number)
- Any secondary numbers such as fax, data and priority voice lines
Services on any secondary number not porting at the same time as their associated primary number may be lost.
You should talk to your current service provider about this before transferring your number.
- Numbers that your current service provider have already terminated
- Disconnected numbers
- If you are changing networks, you must subscribe to any specific services with your new network.
- If you’re staying on the same network (for example, moving from O2 Pay as you go to O2 Pay monthly), you should be able to use most of the same services as before.
- If you’re changing networks, check with your new service provider if your existing handset will work on your new network.
- If you’re staying on the same network, you can use your existing handset.
- Yes. You can transfer your mobile number more than once. But refer to your terms and conditions too.
- Getting a PAC does not mean that you have given notice to end your contract. If you get a PAC but don’t use it, then nothing happens.
- You are responsible for telling your current service provider the secondary numbers (for example, fax and data) that you want to transfer along with their primary numbers.
- Check with your current service provider whether service and subscription charges will continue for any secondary number that stays with them after the primary number is ported out.
- A request from your new service provider to transfer your number represents a notice to end your contract with your current service provider.
- Your service, line rental, etc will continue if your current service provider doesn’t receive your request to transfer your number, even if you gave notice to end your contract.
- Once your number has been transferred, any services you receive will be discontinued with your current service provider.
*It must be a working day (Monday to Friday). It must be at least two working days after you bought your contract. If you bought your contract on a non-working day, then the two working days are calculated from the next working day after your purchase. The last date you can transfer your number is the day the PAC expires plus two working days. If your PAC expires on a non-working day, then it’s the working day before your PAC expires plus two working days.
**To transfer your number when you sign up to a new contract online, phone us on 0870 087 0870 before placing your order to speak to a member of our team because we’re currently unable to process this online.