Switching mobile network
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Discussion

Metric Max

Original Poster:

1,821 posts

245 months

We are switching wifes phone EE to Lebara which we did on my phone last week. Got the PAC code from EE, gave it to Lebara and got the new SIM card.
At that point replaced the old EE SD card with the new Lebara one and could make outgoing calls on Lebara using a temporary number but no one can contact you on the old number until it is ported over.
The phone has dual SIM card slots. Can I have both cards installed, make outgoing on the new card and get incoming on the old one until the number is ported over?

Arrivalist

2,375 posts

22 months

I’m surprised it’s not ported already, unless I’ve misunderstood.

I ordered an Asda mobile £4 a month sim for my mum last week. Sim arrived Monday and I put it in her existing phone, went online to Asda with the PAC code and her old number had ported to the new sim by Tuesday morning.

davek_964

10,668 posts

198 months

It took about 2 days for me when I moved to Lebara I think.

Anyway, to answer the OPs question: It will depend on the phone, but : Yes, you can almost certainly do that.

alangla

6,263 posts

204 months

If it’s an iPhone with dual sims (either real or virtual) then you can pick what line gets used for outgoing calls on a per-call basis if you want. You need to nominate which one it should use for data though.

In saying all that, the situation you’re experiencing seems strange, normally sim A works normally up to the point it goes dead, you insert sim B and restart the phone and sim B then works normally. If this doesn’t resolve quickly you should probably contact your network(s), starting with EE.

davek_964

10,668 posts

198 months

alangla said:
In saying all that, the situation you re experiencing seems strange, normally sim A works normally up to the point it goes dead, you insert sim B and restart the phone and sim B then works normally. If this doesn t resolve quickly you should probably contact your network(s), starting with EE.
I think you're misunderstanding the OP.

The new SIM will work normally, but since nobody will know his new (temporary) number he won't get any incoming calls on it.

alangla

6,263 posts

204 months

davek_964 said:
alangla said:
In saying all that, the situation you re experiencing seems strange, normally sim A works normally up to the point it goes dead, you insert sim B and restart the phone and sim B then works normally. If this doesn t resolve quickly you should probably contact your network(s), starting with EE.
I think you're misunderstanding the OP.

The new SIM will work normally, but since nobody will know his new (temporary) number he won't get any incoming calls on it.
Re-read it and I think I understand what you’re saying.
OP, ignore the second part of my post.

Liamjrhodes

375 posts

164 months

Metric Max said:
We are switching wifes phone EE to Lebara which we did on my phone last week. Got the PAC code from EE, gave it to Lebara and got the new SIM card.
At that point replaced the old EE SD card with the new Lebara one and could make outgoing calls on Lebara using a temporary number but no one can contact you on the old number until it is ported over.
The phone has dual SIM card slots. Can I have both cards installed, make outgoing on the new card and get incoming on the old one until the number is ported over?
Yes I find having both sim cards in for the switchover period is the best way as it makes sure you can receive and make calls. Once the switch is complete the old sim card will simply stop working.

outnumbered

4,788 posts

257 months


The normal way of doing this is just to keep using the old SIM until it stops working on the day you've selected for the number port to happen, then put the new one in.

We've recently switched a few phones from O2 to Lebara and did it that way.

For 2 of the phones, there was then a few hours delay before the Lebara SIM was fully working with the old number. For the most recent one, it was instant, and it worked immediately the O2 one had stopped.

Metric Max

Original Poster:

1,821 posts

245 months

Thanks all, looks like I was right
woohoo

Sheepshanks

39,211 posts

142 months

Metric Max said:
We are switching wifes phone EE to Lebara which we did on my phone last week. Got the PAC code from EE, gave it to Lebara and got the new SIM card.
If you literally did as written, aren't the steps out of order? Have you given the PAC code to Lebara too early?

Arrivalist

2,375 posts

22 months

Sheepshanks said:
Metric Max said:
We are switching wifes phone EE to Lebara which we did on my phone last week. Got the PAC code from EE, gave it to Lebara and got the new SIM card.
If you literally did as written, aren't the steps out of order? Have you given the PAC code to Lebara too early?
This was my thinking when I posted above.

alangla

6,263 posts

204 months

Arrivalist said:
This was my thinking when I posted above.
I can’t recreate it without either logging in or creating a new account, but I think, from memory, Lebara allow you to enter a PAC and switchover date on the order form for the Sim.

davek_964

10,668 posts

198 months

alangla said:
I can t recreate it without either logging in or creating a new account, but I think, from memory, Lebara allow you to enter a PAC and switchover date on the order form for the Sim.
From when I did mine, I think it was:

Ordered and received the SIM
Use the Lebara app - where you have to put your new SIM number in to progress (hence can't do it without having received the SIM)
Provide PAC code and choose switchover date (which for me, the earliest was a few days away)

GlenMH

5,403 posts

266 months

davek_964 said:
From when I did mine, I think it was:

Ordered and received the SIM
Use the Lebara app - where you have to put your new SIM number in to progress (hence can't do it without having received the SIM)
Provide PAC code and choose switchover date (which for me, the earliest was a few days away)
Likewise. I have done it for 3 numbers and all the times it happened were random during the day...

Arrivalist

2,375 posts

22 months

alangla said:
Arrivalist said:
This was my thinking when I posted above.
I can t recreate it without either logging in or creating a new account, but I think, from memory, Lebara allow you to enter a PAC and switchover date on the order form for the Sim.
Ahh… thanks for the school day leaning smile

megaphone

11,468 posts

274 months

My switchover started about 7 am on the chosen day, but had the same issue as the OP, finally all got sorted late in the afternoon.

Lebara works well for me, EE can do one with their 25% price increases.