Once you’ve got your Three plan and SIM card, just follow the 3 simple steps below.
1. Insert your new Three SIM into your phone and turn it on.
2. Get your PAC (Port Authorisation Code) from your old network. The easiest way to do this is to text ‘PAC’ to 65075 (a free number). Note that in some cases you’ll also have to provide additional details, such as your date of birth, but a text response will tell you this if so. You’ll then receive your code along with relevant contract information, such as whether there are any early termination charges to pay.
You can alternatively call up your old network to let them know you are leaving and request your PAC.
3. Fill out Three's online form to report your PAC, or provide it through your My3 account.
That’s all there is to it. If you submit the form before 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) your number should be ported by Three the next working day (unless you choose to delay it).
Outside of those times Three will transfer your number within two working days.
Just be aware that you need to keep your old account active until your number has been ported.
The process for keeping your Three number when moving to another network is very similar. Here’s how to do it.
1. Text ‘PAC’ and your date of birth (in the format DDMMYY) to 65075 from the Three number that you want to keep. You’ll be sent your PAC in response.
2. Sign up with the network that you’re switching to.
3. Give your PAC to your new network. Many networks let you do this during the checkout process, but you’ll always be able to do it after you’ve got your new SIM card too, usually through an online form. But if in doubt, give your new network a call and ask them how to port your number.
4. Wait for the transfer to be completed. This is typically done on a similar schedule to the one Three offers (detailed above), so you won’t have to wait long.
Whether you’re transferring a number to Three or leaving Three and taking your number with you, make sure you keep your old account active until the number transfer is complete. The act of transferring your number will close your old account anyway, so you don’t need to do anything else.
Note also that PAC codes are only valid for 30 days. If you don’t use yours in that time, you’ll have to request a new one if you still want to transfer your number. The act of requesting a PAC won’t close your old account – that only happens if and when the number transfer actually completes.
You can continue using your old number on your old SIM card as usual until the transfer completes, at which point you’ll be able to switch to the new SIM card. There may be a very brief interruption in service during the transfer itself, but this usually only lasts a few minutes at most. If you’ve lost service for longer than that, try turning your phone off and on again.
The information contained on this website has been written to assist our readers. We do not represent Three or speak on its behalf and are entirely independent of Three.
