stolen phone can you keep number?

[mothergoose]

Have just had very frustrating three quarters on hold and finally speaking to Virgin Mobile who told me that if they unblock your number to order a new sim card then the thieves will be able to use the stolen phone. Can this be true?

My daughter was attacked at Notting Hill Carnival at the weekend and had her belongings stolen. This just sounds like an extra headache.

Any experience of this?

[mima08]

Sounds odd. I had my phone stolen a couple of years ago, called O2 who blocked the sim, sent me a new one and I kept my number no problem. I was on a monthly plan, though... Call them again, my experience from virgin broadband is that different support staff can provide very different answers to problems....Good luck!

[Red_Cat]

Sorry to hear about your daughter.

I'm not quite sure how these things work but I was definitely able to keep the same number with no problem when I had my phone stolen, this was with t mobile.

[Angelina]

This may be useful?

https://recombu.com/mobile/article/what-to-do-if-when-you-lose-lost-your-phone-iphone_M20427.html

Definaletly change all passwords.

As for the thief being able to use teh phone - does it matter? I presume it would allow access to photos... what else?

Can't the phone be locked so it can't be used?

In my personal experience, I've just been sent a new SIM with the same number (PAYG on giffgaff). We guessed the new owner would wipe the phone and take it over.

[mothergoose]

Thanks for info. Yes Virgin Mobile can be very frustrating. I'm going to call back this morning and talk to someone else about it.

[Sue]

Some years back I had my phone stolen and was able to keep my old number no problem.

They just block use of the old sim card and send you a new one, don't they?

ETA: the number isn't only able to be used in one sim card otherwise you wouldn't be able to keep your number when you changed providers. I

[mothergoose]

Have ordered new Sim. virgin apologised for the 'misunderstanding' yesterday.

BTW teenage daughter is swearing never to return to the carnival. She has been going for the last 5 years and hasn't had any problems but certainly wasn't the only one of her friends to run into trouble.