since 3rd January 2026, I have been in a pickle with ID mobile.

I ordered an iPhone 16e, requested my old number to switch to this new plan number, went to set it up and had some set up issues with the device, so I returned it and cancelled my PAC transfer of my old number so this wouldn’t happen.

ID mobile then tell me the return has had internal issues as someone has registered the return to the wrong ID branch, so I top up the random number and put it in another phone just so I have some data to last me through this no phone period.

ID mobile then tell me the return has been sorted, and cancelled, and I can continue to use the number as a PAYG until my new order and new SIM arrive.

New phone and new SIM arrives, I request my PAC so the old number goes onto this new SIM so I can discard the PAYG temporary SIM.

I receive a message to say the switch has been successful…. hooray! Except ID mobile transferred my old number, onto the PAYG SIM, then cancelled it.

SO where has my old number now gone?!

Why are ID mobile so hard to communicate with considering they are a mobile phone company. All I want is my number back which I have had for 20+ years. 

They have said I need to request a PAC, but then I need to leave ID mobile as they cannot switch internally.

So why did they transfer my old number to the random PAYG SIM from the returned faulty device, and why did they send a new SIM and send me texts to say it was the new SIM number being switched?!

A month without data, and now being told their mistakes mean I need to sort MORE admin just to get my number back and then find another provider. What is this madness?!