Switching from EE to Plusnet Mobile? It's a straightforward process to keep your existing phone number.
Step 1: Get a PAC Code from EE
If you’d like to move your phone number from EE to Plusnet Mobile, the first step is getting your Porting Authorisation Code (or PAC Code) from EE.
There are three ways to get a PAC Code from EE:
- Online: You can get a PAC Code from EE by logging in to the My EE website. Once you've logged in, go to Menu > Account settings > Leave EE.
- By Text Message: You can get an EE PAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text PAC to 65075 to receive a PAC Code from EE.
- By Phone: You can get a PAC Code by calling EE. To do this, call them on 150 using your EE handset. Alternatively, dial 07953 966 250 from any other phone. You'll need to call during EE's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 8am-6pm, Sunday 8am-6pm).
Here are some key things to know:
- A PAC Code is 9 digits long and follows the format ABC 123 456.
- Your PAC Code is valid for 30 days. If you don't use it during this time, the PAC Code will expire and you'll need to request a new one.
- You shouldn't close your account at EE: it'll be closed automatically when your phone number is transferred to Plusnet Mobile.
Still in contract with EE? If so, you may need to pay an early exit fee on your bill from EE. To find out how much this would be, text INFO to 85075.
Don’t want to keep your EE phone number? You can switch to Plusnet Mobile without taking your phone number with you. If you'd like to do this, get a STAC Code from EE instead.
EE STAC Code (Leave EE Without Keeping Your Number)
If you’d like to leave EE without keeping your phone number, you’ll need to request a STAC Code rather than a PAC Code. There are three ways to get a STAC Code from EE:
- Online: You can get a STAC Code from EE by logging in to the My EE website. After logging in, go to Menu > Account settings > Leave EE.
- By Text Message: You can get an EE STAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text STAC to 75075 to receive a STAC Code from EE.
- By Phone: You can get a STAC Code by calling EE. Call them on 150 using your EE handset. Alternatively, dial 07953 966 250 from any other phone. You'll need to call during EE's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 8am-6pm, Sunday 8am-6pm).
Once you’ve gotten your STAC Code from EE, the rest of the process for joining Plusnet Mobile remains the same.
Step 2: Order your new phone or SIM card from Plusnet Mobile's website
You should now order your new phone or SIM card using the Plusnet Mobile website. Please select the type of tariff you're intending to move to:
If you're looking for a SIM card from Plusnet Mobile, the following deals are currently most popular:
| Network | Data | Monthly Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No price plans could be found matching this criteria. | |||
For a full list of available tariffs and the latest Plusnet Mobile deals, please refer to this page on Plusnet Mobile's website.
Plusnet Mobile will assign you with a temporary phone number during the transition process. This will allow you to test out the service before you finally transfer your phone number to Plusnet Mobile.
Step 3: Give the PAC Code to Plusnet Mobile
Once your new phone or SIM card arrives from Plusnet Mobile, switch it on and make sure everything's working properly. If, for whatever reason, you need to return or change the handset or SIM card, it's best to do this before transferring your phone number.
Once you're happy to continue with the phone number transfer, contact Plusnet Mobile and provide them with your PAC Code from EE.
You can give the PAC Code to Plusnet Mobile by calling 500 on your Plusnet Mobile handset. You can also call 0800 079 1133 from any other phone.
If you have a STAC Code from EE rather than a PAC Code, this can be provided to Plusnet Mobile in the exact same way.
Remember:
- You must provide the PAC Code to Plusnet Mobile within 30 days of it being issued by EE. If the PAC Code has already expired, you'll need to return to step 1 and request a new PAC Code from EE.
- EE Pay As You Go customers: Try to use up your remaining credit as it can't be transferred to Plusnet Mobile.
Step 4: Phone Number Transferred (Next Working Day)
Once you've provided a PAC code to Plusnet Mobile, your phone number transfer will normally be scheduled for the next working day (Monday to Friday only, excluding English bank holidays).
On the day of the transfer, you'll momentarily lose coverage on both mobile networks. When this happens, restart your handset on Plusnet Mobile. You should find that the Plusnet Mobile phone or SIM card will now associated with your original phone number.
- If you see an error message (e.g. "SIM card registration failed"), this means it's time to restart your phone.
- Once the phone number has been transferred to Plusnet Mobile, your account on EE will automatically be closed. You'll receive a final bill from EE for any outstanding charges.
Get the Latest Deals from Plusnet Mobile →
Any Other Questions?
In case of any problems during the transfer of your phone number, you should contact your new mobile network (Plusnet Mobile) with details of the problem.
If you have any other questions on using a PAC Code, please see my in-depth guide to transferring your phone number between networks. You can also read the comments below from other visitors to this website.
← Full Article: "PAC Codes - How to transfer your mobile number when switching networks"
SB said:
Hi,
I am currently on EE and my contract is coming to an end so I have decided to keep my phone and get myself into a sim only contract via plusnet.
My PAC code expires on 25th September.
I ordered my new SIM card yesterday via the Plusnet website and provided my PAC code. I have not received any further information about my order so I got in touch with their online chat help team. They said my order is “pending” and can’t tell me if I will have my SIM card by the deadline of 25th Sep.
I am trying to avoid being charged for a further month by EE, but now I don’t know what is going on. I thought Plusnet would manage to sort everything within a few days which is why I left it until yesterday to order my SIM card.
Do you know what might be going on?
Ken replied:
Hi SB,
Sadly, I don’t know what’s going on with the connection to Plusnet – this is something they’ll need to check on as it’s an account-specific issue. However, you shouldn’t need to worry about EE charging you for another full month (your final bill should be pro-rated based on the number of days you were connected to the EE network). Similarly, if your PAC Code expires on the 25th, you can request a new one from EE the same day.
Ken
Andrea Palmer said:
Hi Ken I had a contract with EE when it ended I bought a new phone and got the Pac code from EE to pass to new SIM only provider plusnet. This worked fine without problems until 2 weeks ago when I was received a text from EE saying I had used all my data . I thought this was an error but a few hours later I was unable to use data. I rang plusnet and they still.don’t know why this has happened. EE can’t explain either. Tonight I requested my pac code from.plusnet to go to another provider but they said if I change now I still don’t be able to get data on a new SIM until this is resolved is this correct ?
Ken replied:
Hi Andrea,
I’m sorry to hear about the problems you’ve experienced with EE/Plusnet Mobile. This sounds like a fairly bizarre situation – if you were indeed connected & transferred over to Plusnet Mobile, then I would expect you to no longer receive anything from EE. One thing that might be worth noting is that EE & Plusnet are part of the same company (being two different brands within the BT Consumer group). Furthermore, up until a few years ago, Plusnet Mobile was actually part of EE (this was when they were called LIFE Mobile). It’s possible therefore that EE & Plusnet are sharing some of their backend systems, and something weird might be going on there (e.g. they’re treating you as an EE customer, even though you’re actually on Plusnet). This is something I haven’t heard of before, so you’ll probably need to chase up Plusnet Support directly on this for further investigation.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Andy said:
I’m moving four numbers to Plus who have just entered the mobile business. I know they’re a subsiduary of BT who also own EE. We can only get reasonable reception at home with EE/Orange and Vodafone. Two of the numbers are currently with Orange who tell me that porting the numbers to Plus won’t be a problem, and I have PAC codes for them. The other two numbers I’m transferring are with EE who say that I won’t be able to port directly to Plus as a PAC code won’t work as it’s a transfer EE to EE. The went on to tell me that I would have to port them to another provider then to Plus. Does this sound right, and if so which intermediate provider would you suggest we move them to? Thanks for your help. Andy
Ken replied:
Hi Andy,
I believe the team at EE are mistaken about this, and there shouldn’t be any problems transferring your phone number from EE to Plusnet Mobile. Therefore, I’d simply recommend submitting your EE PAC Code as normal to the guys at Plusnet Mobile.
Ken
Andy replied:
Many thanks Ken. I’ll give it a go.
Rich replied:
Andy, did you manage to port your EE number to Plusnet without any hassle? I’m looking at doing the same thing…
Andy replied:
Yes, the transfer went OK, although it was a little slow. I expected that given that Plusnet is a new mobile provider and comments on their forum suggested it would take a bit of time. My move was just before Christmas, so I’d allowed a bit of extra time for it to happen before the end of the notice period, so it wasn’t a problem. I’m just so glad to be away from Orange and EE with their absence of customer service, and every opportunity taken to get money off you.
Rich replied:
I was offered a good deal with Plusnet, then when I called EE to get the PAC code from my PAYG cell (I’ve been abroad so transferred to a PAYG to keep the number I’ve had for years). They offered me a better deal over the phone, so I took it. Their sim card arrived in 2 days and the transfer of the number took another day and a half. Very quick so I was pleased. Always a bit of a shame having to do that to get a better deal, but that’s commerce I guess! Plusnet took the first payment but they said they will reimburse it asap. Both parties were friendly and helpful.