Switching from Three to Lebara Mobile? 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 Lebara Mobile, 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 Lebara Mobile.
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 Lebara Mobile 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 Lebara Mobile remains the same.
Step 2: Order your new phone or SIM card from Lebara Mobile's website
You should now order your new phone or SIM card using the Lebara Mobile website. Please select the type of tariff you're intending to move to:
If you're looking for a SIM card from Lebara Mobile, the following deals from £4.50/month are currently most popular:
| Network | Data | Monthly Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5GB data | £4.50 per month 12 month contract | See deal |
Offer ends 4th Dec | 10GB data | £7.00 per month £2.49 for 4 months 1 month rolling | See deal |
Offer ends 4th Dec | 20GB data | £8.00 per month £2.99 for 4 months 1 month rolling | See deal |
Offer ends 4th Dec | 30GB data | £9.00 per month £3.99 for 4 months 1 month rolling | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £22.50 per month 12 month contract | See deal |
For a full list of available tariffs and the latest Lebara Mobile deals, please refer to this page on Lebara Mobile's website.
Lebara 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 Lebara Mobile.
Step 3: Give the PAC Code to Lebara Mobile
Once your new phone or SIM card arrives from Lebara 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 Lebara Mobile and provide them with your PAC Code from Three.
Your PAC Code should be entered on Lebara Mobile's online form. Alternatively, you can give the PAC Code to Lebara Mobile by calling 5588 on your Lebara Mobile handset. You can also call 020 3059 0304 from any other phone.
If you have a STAC Code from Three rather than a PAC Code, this can be provided to Lebara Mobile in the exact same way.
Remember:
- You must provide the PAC Code to Lebara Mobile 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 Lebara Mobile.
Step 4: Phone Number Transferred (Next Working Day)
Once you've provided a PAC code to Lebara 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 Lebara Mobile. You should find that the Lebara 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 Lebara Mobile, 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 Lebara Mobile →
Any Other Questions?
In case of any problems during the transfer of your phone number, you should contact your new mobile network (Lebara 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"
jim jack said:
want to port to lebara from three
have a 3 year old pay as you go sim with lebara
will it work or do I have to get a fresh sim card from Lebara to port my three number over to lebara ?
Ken replied:
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your comment. You can port the phone number in to your existing Lebara SIM card. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had the SIM – it’s always possible to transfer a phone number in.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Jake said:
Moving from Three (3) to Lebara due to piss poor coverage despite their claims, fortunately I have a spare dual SIM phone on which to conduct PAC transfers and currently the Lebara SIM is displaying 5 bars of reception, whilst the 3 SIM is displaying ‘No service’. Just a shame Vodafone itself is stingey with its Big Value Bundles and also wanted to highlight a Lebara exclusive of 2Gb data, Unlimited UK minutes & texts for £5/m available
Not one for me, as my preferred method of top up is by voucher.
Ken replied:
Hi Jake,
Thanks for your comment. With regards to your SIM card from Three, this might be because their SIM cards won’t work in a dual-SIM phone. Alternatively, if you’ve already transferred your phone number from Three to Lebara, your old SIM card on Three will be disabled automatically.
Ken
Jake Mustard replied:
Hi Ken,
Just to let you you my Three SIM did work in slot 1 of my dual SIM phone, but with very inconsistence connectivity and poor reception, whist Lebara was consistent in both.
Three coverage in my area is just exceptionally poor, no real issues with Vodafone, O2 or EE of which I have PAYG SIMs on all three, no pun not intended.
Other than that great site, keep up the good work!
Ken replied:
Hi Jake,
Thanks for your feedback! Yes, a SIM card from Three will only work in a 3G-enabled SIM slot. On lots of dual-SIM phones, only the primary SIM card slot is 3G-enabled and the secondary SIM slot is 2G-only (though this isn’t always the case as there are now 4G+3G and dual-SIM 4G phones). That potentially explains why you’re only able to use the Three SIM card in your primary SIM slot.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Devan said:
Hi.
I’m hoping you may know the answer to my dillema. I feel stranded.
I was/am on three mobile, I checked their website to make sure I could make calls abroad ( I’m in Argentina for 6months) website said I could so brought my sim along with me here. I got here and no signal at all.emailed three and they confirmed they have no agrement in place here even though website says different.lucky I had a spare Lebara sim with me which does work.got my PAC code for Three gave it to Lebara a couple of days ago. Two questions really; 1 does my Three mobile need to be in a phone for the transfer to take place? 2 Is it going to cause a problem the fact that I am out of the Uk whilst the transfer is taking place. Personally I don’t think either is going to cause any issues but I’m no expert. Thanks
Ken replied:
Hi Devan,
Thanks for the comment! Unfortunately I don't know the answer to your precise question – but when a PAC Code is issued, it is usually recommended that you turn off/reboot your phone. For this reason, I suspect it should make no difference whether you are in the UK or abroad when your number is transferred.
Hope this helps,
Ken