Mobile phones and Security

[User]

 

[Night Train]

I thought it was six months!

Both my folks have PAYG phones, for emergencies, and we try to get a call on them once every six months if they haven't been used to keep them alive.

I think the idea is that a phone that hasn't been used is temporarily closed down and then if still not use then the phone is closed and the number is recycled into use. It reduces the need for more and more numbers to replace old dead phones sitting in drawers.

 

[marinyork]

IIRC, vodafone have the harshest disconnection policy around. It used to be in the past (going back a long time) that various other providers had longer periods before they disconnected you. Not sure how things are now.

 

[biggs682]

never heard of that one

 

[Norm]

Most networks do it but Vodafone are leeches, IMO.

 

[HLaB]

I've got a Virgin PAYG because they don't worry how often you top up but iirc when I looked before some were proper scams like you had to top up £10 a month, you'd almost be better with a contract in those cases.

 

[classic33]

With Orange the period is six months.

The "security reasons" tend to be there to allow them to disconnect the number from the network. Covered in the small print, Numbers that have'nt been used for a while go into quarantine for three years, minimum. My old Cellnet number from 2000 is still in quarantine & the company,now owned by Vodafone, will not release it. So it can't be "recycled".

 

[Brains]

With Orange the period is six months.

The "security reasons" tend to be there to allow them to disconnect the number from the network. Covered in the small print, Numbers that have'nt been used for a while go into quarantine for three years, minimum. My old Cellnet number from 2000 is still in quarantine & the company,now owned by Vodafone, will not release it. So it can't be "recycled".

A mate of mine got a new mobile phone and number.
The old number was back in use within 2 weeks !
It went to a minicab driver who, as my mate had forgotten to tell people that he had changed number (even his parents!), the minicab driver was continually getting texts and confused calls from people wanting to know why he had 'stolen' the phone

Same applies to my old land line number, I went off travelling, the flatmates did not pay the phone bill, phone was cut off, and reallocated within about 10 days to a man who made it ex directory but must have been getting calls for years to come as the number was printed on thousands of business cards, was listed in adverts and was the contact number on the back of a Top 10 best selling record of the day.
When I got back they would not give me my number back despite all the hassle it was causing the new owner.


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