PAC code error - is my number lost for good?

[JamesT1967]

Hi folks, bit of a weird one this.

So I placed an order with Vodafone for a new sim - and requested a PAC code to move my old O2 number over.

I then cancelled the Vodafone order as I seen a better deal, and placed a new order with Vodafone.

But, the original switch was already set up with O2 and it went through a few days ago - but the switch appears to have gone nowhere, and my O2 account is now inactive, with Vodafone saying the old number hasn't switched over and the PAC code is invalid. O2 say the number is now with Vodafone. Where do phone numbers go when they're not attached to any network!?

I've suffered through 6 live chats in total with both networks and both are telling me to go to the other to fix it. I made a mistake not stopping O2 from switching, but I thought the cancelling the order with Vodafone would cancel it with O2 (probably stupid I know) and I never actually received an email confirmation for the cancellation. So switching day arrived and I didn't have time to sort it...

I'm pretty close to giving up and just using the new number but thought I'd look for help one last time, cheers!

[Mark]

If the order with us was cancelled before the number was ported over to us @JamesT1967, it will still be connected to your previous providers network. If not this may be connected to your cancelled Vodafone account. We can take a look into this for you, as we'd need access to your account to do this, please pop us a private message via one of our social channels.

[simax]

If the number port has happened after the order cancelled then the number will be held in Vodafone’s quarantine pool. Their number management team will be able to retrieve it from there and attach it to your new account - at least they SHOULD be able to.

[JamesT1967]

Thanks, this is what I would assume too - O2 have done their work, the number is gone from their system, so it's surely with Vodafone now to retrieve it somehow? No one on the live chat mentioned a quarantine pool but I didn't speak to anyone technical (somehow...)

I've now emailed the porting help team so hopefully they can figure it out.

[pctechbloke]

That would be my understanding and from experience when I had a split port some years back (number was being displayed when I dialled out but calls and texts were bounced) which is why I started looking into the process.

[JamesT1967]

Thanks Mark, I did wonder if it had been put into a cancelled account, or ported into the cancelled new number. But it was all done through my existing Vodafone account that I have my broadband with, so I wasn't sure.

I've emailed porting@help.vodafone.co.uk after getting the address from another live chat yesterday, so I'll see how that goes. If anyone can figure it out it's them I'd assume.

[pctechbloke]

The gaining network (in your case Vodafone) are responsible for sorting out the technicalties of the port once they've accepted the code which they did when they agrred a port date, I'd be tempted to call 191 during the day and have a chat with them.

The Mobile Number Portability Operator Steering Group have a publicly accessible document here https://mnposg.org.uk/osg-documents/ (top link) which describes the process.

To answer your question though, if you close an account without porting the number/payg sim expires the number gets returened to the original donor network.

To find out who that would be have a look at ofcom's numbering data here (Excel required) https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for-industry/numbering

If that's happened though you've got little chance of getting it back,

Even if you pay a provider for so-called Bronze, Silver or Gold memorable numbers which some businesses do, it does not confer ownership rights on the individual or company whatsoever.

Follow Mark's advice, but in future, it's best to let a port complete and port out again rather than trying to put the brakes on during the process.

Good luck!

[simax]

If someone closes an account with a number that was ported in from elsewhere, it remains in that networks quarantine pool for a period of time (notably a few weeks to a couple of months) before being returned to the original network…. This allows for instances where a number is disconnected in error and means the number can be reactivated easily.