Hi All,
My sister has been away for over a year, and she was with Boost (Prepaid) when she was in Aus
Now she's coming back and I was wondering if there's a way to get the old number back. We still have the old SIM card, but it seems to be not active (No signal)
Can I port out to a new provider without verification
When I call that number (was curious) it says it's not connected
I tried reaching out to Boost but they give me different answers each time.
Has anyone ever been through this
Thanks
A telco does not have to reissue your number unless it was disconnected incorrectly or without your permission.
^ this has everything you need to know
First thing you want to do is confirm which telco the number belongs to, you can check here
https://www.thenumberingsystem.com.au/#!/number-register/sea…
Then contact them on live chat (customer support probably won't know what to do, but they'll raise a case and can escalate it)
How accurate have you found this?
I tried 3 numbers and the data for all 3 is wrong.
Shows Vodafone as the current holder for 2 when both have been with Boost for over 3 years and Telstra for 1 which has been with Catch Connect for over 2 years.
The site only tells you who is the original issuer of the numbers. Since the numbers are in your name, you must remember how you got the numbers initially.
The same number will only be re-issued by the original issuer after quarantine, no matter who disconnects it.
Yep, it doesn't matter who it currently is with, but rather who was the first to issue it. That is the provider who actually owns your number
sister has been away for over a year
Not looking good.
Seems like a lot of effort. Just start fresh.
In reality there's around a month hold where they can reactivate it.
So basically the answer is definitely no, the number is gone forever / someone else will get it.
someone else will get it.
What is the probability they will end up with the same number?
Approximately zero
But not zero…
I believe there is also a 6 month hold on all numbers once they are "released" as well, basically blocking them from being able to be used.
yes, the link about states that… It is either 6 or 12 months depending on reason it was put in quarantine …
It used to be 6 months from expiry of the SIM card, which was 3-6 months after credit ran out.
This was a decade ago. With the sheer number of devices all using mobile numbers, I’m sure it’s shortened in application.
It’s was a nightmare back then to try and get it, then there were always tech issues after the fact.
OP - Just be done with it and get a new number.
It depends if there’s a number shortage (which can happen) but numbers go into quarantine status for between 6-12 months (depending on the reason code that was used to disconnect the service)
Could I port to a different provider like aldi and just choose "keep my number"
If you need your number to get SMS to confirm porting.
I doubt that will work for a cancelled service.
Damn. Thanks. I thought so too
The registered e-mail should have received the number termination notification close to 6 months of no recharge.
@akay0402: It is very easy to say no e-mail for anyone.
Over the years, I opened multiple new numbers and every time Boost delivered such notifications by e-mails and SMS before terminated them.
First time is about 32 days before termination; Second time is about 8 days before termination.
No, because it needs to be active even if without credit. Which it isn’t as it says ‘no service’
Call the number up and ask whoever has it now if you can buy it off them.
https://www.thenumberingsystem.com.au/#!/number-register/sea…
Put the number in there and see which carrier it belongs to
That's interesting. It doesn't show when you've ported your number out from the original carrier
When was your sister last recharged her prepaid plan? In my experience, I was able to reactivate an expired sim because it was still within 6 months after the sim expired (not the prepaid plan).
So, let's say your sister left Australia January 2024 and her prepaid plan expired by the end of February 2024.
Her boost sim card (aka the number) would had expired by end of August 2024 (it's 6 months according to Boost https://boost.com.au/blogs/help-topics/how-long-do-i-not-hav…).
Then the number would had been in quarantine until end of February 2025 (as noted by a poster above).
By March 2025 it's probably too late to claim it back.
Also don't call them, visit their store, they couldn't reactive mine through phone call.
Reading this might help.