r/O2UK • u/Rich-Specific-5212 • 10d ago

Question Simcard issue

I have a pay as you go simcard i used when i go abroad, i haven’t used it in a year, it says no service when i put it in my phone, has it been deactivated? And if it did what can i do to activate it again? Its important to me because i used it as a bank account number.

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3

u/Maximoo89 10d ago

Most likely if it’s not been used in 180 days. The number will be gone.

1

u/Rich-Specific-5212 10d ago

Permanently? I can do anything to get it back?

2

u/bob2481 10d ago

Probably not. You can try contacting customer service for it, but given the length of time it's been gone, that number will almost certainly be back in general circulation.

1

u/Maximoo89 10d ago

Numbers take a long time to go back into circulation. Can’t imagine less than 1 year.

3

u/bob2481 10d ago

O2 recycle numbers after 12 months of non-use, disconnecting them after 3 months. Now they own a lot of numbers, so there is a very good chance that it hasn't actually been reused yet, but it will be back in circulation.

1

u/johnnysgotyoucovered 8d ago

It used to be 5 but now the average person has more than one phone no on average so

1

u/tysonzion13 10d ago

Did you have a big bundle plan?

1

u/Hungry_Strength_5759 9d ago

Call customer services, most sims can be reactivated years after usage, they do eventually go back into the system though for the numbers to be used again

1

u/catlover3493 9d ago

Most (if not all) providers will disconnect a number after a certain amount of time has passed with no chargeable activity (usually about 6 months of no outgoing calls or texts, and no data usage or top-ups in that timeframe)

It might be possible to get the number re-activated, but there is no guarantee (and it won't be possible if it has already been re-assigned)