Switching from Three to giffgaff? It's a straightforward process to keep your existing phone number.
Step 1: Get a PAC Code from Three
If you’d like to move your phone number from Three to giffgaff, the first step is getting your Porting Authorisation Code (or PAC Code) from Three.
There are three ways to get a PAC Code from Three:
- Online: You can get a PAC Code from Three by logging in to the My3 Account website.
- By Text Message: You can get a Three PAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text PAC followed by your date of birth in DDMMYY format to 65075 to receive a PAC Code from Three.
- By Phone: You can get a PAC Code by calling Three. To do this, call them on 333 using your Three handset. Alternatively, dial 0333 338 1001 from any other phone. You'll need to call during Three's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 9am-6pm).
Here are some key things to know:
- The PAC Code from Three should consist of six numbers with HTG at the start (e.g. HTG 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 Three: it'll be closed automatically when your phone number is transferred to giffgaff.
Still in contract with Three? If so, you may need to pay an early exit fee on your bill from Three. To find out how much this would be, text INFO followed by your date of birth in DDMMYY format to 85075.
Don’t want to keep your Three phone number? You can switch to giffgaff without taking your phone number with you. If you'd like to do this, get a STAC Code from Three instead.
Three STAC Code (Leave Three Without Keeping Your Number)
If you’d like to leave Three 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 Three:
- Online: You can get a STAC Code from Three by logging in to the My3 Account website.
- By Text Message: You can get a Three STAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text STAC followed by your date of birth in DDMMYY format to 75075 to receive a STAC Code from Three.
- By Phone: You can get a STAC Code by calling Three. Call them on 333 using your Three handset. Alternatively, dial 0333 338 1001 from any other phone. You'll need to call during Three's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 9am-6pm).
Once you’ve gotten your STAC Code from Three, the rest of the process for joining giffgaff remains the same.
Step 2: Order your new phone or SIM card from giffgaff's website
You should now order your new phone or SIM card using the giffgaff website. Please select the type of tariff you're intending to move to:
If you're looking for a SIM card from giffgaff, the following deals from £6/month are currently most popular:
| Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | £6.00 1 month |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 6GB | £8.00 18 months |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 25GB | £10.00 18 months |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 120GB | £20.00 18 months |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £25.00 18 months |
For a full list of available tariffs and the latest giffgaff deals, please refer to this page on giffgaff's website.
giffgaff 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 giffgaff.
Step 3: Give the PAC Code to giffgaff
Once your new phone or SIM card arrives from giffgaff, 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 giffgaff and provide them with your PAC Code from Three.
Your PAC Code should be entered on giffgaff's online form.
If you have a STAC Code from Three rather than a PAC Code, this can be provided to giffgaff in the exact same way.
Remember:
- You must provide the PAC Code to giffgaff within 30 days of it being issued by Three. If the PAC Code has already expired, you'll need to return to step 1 and request a new PAC Code from Three.
- Three Pay As You Go customers: Try to use up your remaining credit as it can't be transferred to giffgaff.
Step 4: Phone Number Transferred (Next Working Day)
As long as you've submitted your PAC Code to giffgaff before 3pm, your phone number transfer will normally be scheduled for the next working day (Monday to Friday only, excluding English bank holidays). After 3pm, you'll need to wait one extra working day for your number to be transferred.
On the day of the transfer, you'll momentarily lose coverage on both mobile networks. When this happens, restart your handset on giffgaff. You should find that the giffgaff 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 giffgaff, your account on Three will automatically be closed. You'll receive a final bill from Three for any outstanding charges.
Get the Latest Deals from giffgaff →
Any Other Questions?
In case of any problems during the transfer of your phone number, you should contact your new mobile network (giffgaff) 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"
Denty said:
Hi I was on three and changed to Giff gaff using a pac code , I kept my old three sim just in case . If I was to change back using this sim would I need to get a pac code again.
Thanks
Ken replied:
Hi Denty,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, your old SIM card on Three will now be inactive and so you won’t be possible to re-use it again. You can however order a new SIM card from Three, and of course you can transfer your number to this SIM card through the normal PAC Code process.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Colin said:
Hi Ken, lots of great information here, thank you.
I tried to ask this question at the weekend, but suspect it didn’t post properly.
If I have an old Three phone with PAYG credit on it (which I want to use up) and a new phone with a sim from Giffgaff (which I intend using straight away) is there any time limit on how long I can wait before transferring my old Three number to my new phone? You’d normally transfer your old number to your new phone almost straight away, but I suspect it could be a couple of months before I would want and need to do this.
Ken replied:
Hi Colin,
Thanks for your comment and sorry for the delay in getting back to you!
There’s no time limit on transferring your number: you’re able to do this any time you want. So it’s definitely fine to use up your credit on Three before moving the phone number over to giffgaff. Indeed, I normally recommend against transferring your phone number immediately to a new network (it’s always worth spending a bit of time to ensure the new smartphone & network is working properly… it’s much easier to cancel the transfer if you haven’t yet moved the number over).
By the way, if it’s too much hassle carrying round two separate handsets and if you’re already paying for a goodybag on giffgaff, you can expedite the process of using up your credit by donating the old credit to a charity you support (better than leaving this money in Three’s coffers!). See here for more information.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Georgie Robson said:
Hi Ken,
Thanks for all the information provided above. I wish I had read it before I started the transfer from 3 to giffgaff as it’s Saturday now and so my old number will not transfer until Tuesday. Should have transferred between Monday-Thursday!
I have a couple of questions:
– My new giffgaff SIM has now been activated and everything is working fine. Can I put my old 3 SIM back in my unlocked Nexus and use it until Tuesday?
– If I do this will I have to go through setting up the Internet connection again do you know?
Ken replied:
Hi Georgie,
Thanks for the comment! It’s no problem at all requesting your number transfer before the weekend: you’ll still have coverage on your old Three SIM card until the number transfers over. So yes, do feel free to stick the Three SIM card back into your unlocked Nexus smartphone. When doing so, it might be necessary to restore Three’s APN settings. On Tuesday, when your number transfers over, you can put the giffgaff SIM card into your Nexus device and restore giffgaff’s APN.
Hope this helps!
Ken
Georgie Robson replied:
Thanks Ken,
I did swap back to my Three SIM until today and fortunately I did not have to restore the APN settings.
I just tried to use my phone this morning and finding I was not connected any more to Three I have inserted my Giffgaff SIM and hey presto everything is working. I haven’t even got to go through all the setting up again to use the Internet.
Modern technology is wonderful! I’m over 60 and really appreciate it – and blogs like yours too that help when I do get stuck. So thanks again for your help.
Georgie
Ken replied:
Hi Georgie,
Great news – thanks for updating me on the status of your phone number transfer! Glad to know everything worked smoothly 🙂 And thanks also for the kind feedback… I’m really glad to have been able to help!
Ken