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The time has finally come to treat yourself to a new smartphone. You might be due an upgrade. Maybe you’ve lost your phone? Or perhaps your device is simply a little worse for wear after all those years of constant use.

Whatever your reason for purchasing a new device, one of the first things you’ll need to think about is taking out mobile phone insurance.

Smartphones aren’t cheap these days, with some handsets costing £1,000 or more to buy outright. So, you want to make sure your device is protected if it gets lost, stolen or damaged.

Gadget Cover can provide mobile phone insurance policies that include cover against accidental and liquid damage, theft and loss for an extra fee.

Smartphone accessories up to a certain amount will be covered, too, and you’ll be protected against unauthorised usage.

How do you transfer a number to a new device?

It can be really exciting purchasing a new smartphone, especially if it comes with a top-notch camera and all of the latest features.

But taking on a new mobile phone number can be a bit of a pain.

Not just because you have to learn a brand new set of digits (and forget your old number), but also because you’ll have to get in contact with everyone in your phonebook to let them know your number has changed.

And you can bet that half of those people won’t end up saving that new number!

It’s much easier to hold onto your current number and get it transferred to another network. It’s a very easy process, and can save you a lot of hassle in the long run. Here’s what to do:

Get your PAC code

PAC stands for ‘Porting Authorisation Code.’

It’s what you’ll need if you want to keep the same phone number and you’re changing network provider, or if you’re moving from a pay-as-you-go deal to a monthly contract with the same network provider.

If you’re simply moving from one contract to another with the same provider, or from one pay-as-you-go deal to another, your current number will be automatically activated on your new SIM card. Check out the pros and cons of having sim-only contracts with your phone.

Getting your PAC code via text

It’s never been easier to obtain your PAC code. As PACCodes.co.uk explains, as of July 2019  mobile phone owners can get their code using text-to-switch.

This means that you no longer need to call the network provider to move your number.

Many customers reported feeling frustrated when they contacted their provider for their code, as they would try to persuade them to stay. This won’t be an issue if you use the text-to-switch service.

As the website notes, it’s possible to sign up with another network or to a new contract before asking for your PAC code.

But don’t terminate your contract until you’ve got that code, or you could risk losing your current phone number.

The PACCodes website contains a handy tool where you enter the provider you’re switching from and to in order to find a specific guide on how to obtain the code.

You can, of course, still get in contact with your current network provider via phone to obtain the PAC code if you want to speak to a real person.

Codes usually contain nine digits and are valid for 30 days – if your PAC code expires, then all you need to do is request a new one from the network.

Give the PAC code to your new provider

With your PAC code at the ready, you’ll need to get in touch with your new network to give them the code and kick-start the cancellation process with your former provider.

It’s essentially down to your new network provider to deal with the switch; it’ll contact your old provider to tell them about the transfer and will organise when this will happen.

It usually takes around one working day for your number to be transferred, but it may take a few days if you contact them just before or during the weekend.

In the meantime, you’ll want to keep the new, temporary number so that you can still make calls and send texts.

Check the transfer has worked

It’s always worth double checking that the transfer process has been successful.

Ask a family member to give you a call, or phone them and get them to check that your new contact details come up on their screen.

Will you lose service?

It’s possible that you’ll lose service while the actual transfer is taking place, but this should only be for a short period of time (i.e. several minutes).

If it’s taking any longer, it might help to turn your phone off and on again – hopefully service will be restored.

You’ll be able to use the temporary number after you’ve given your new provider your PAC code, up until when the transfer takes place.

What if you want a new number?

If you’d rather start afresh and have a new number with your new smartphone, then you’ll need to request what’s known as a STAC – short for  ‘service termination authorisation code’.

As ASDA mobile notes, this code enables you to cancel your number with your current supplier when you switch networks.

The STAC code is free of charge and, just like PAC codes, is valid for up to 30 days (you’ll need to request a new code if you go over 30 days).

Your new network should be able to cancel the number the next working day, bearing in mind that weekends and bank holidays will affect the length of the process.

Mobile phone insurance from Gadget Cover

Arranging mobile phone insurance should be one of the first things you do after you’ve purchased your new smartphone. A policy arranged through Gadget Cover has benefits including:

• First month of cover free on policies paid monthly
• Discounts on policies paid annually
• Unlimited claims
• Truly instant cover
• Low excess fees
• UK-based customer support
• 14-day money back guarantee

Get a free, no-obligation quote today!