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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think paying £102 to change to a “better” mobile number isn’t completely ridiculous?

155 replies

ThatJadeFawn · 15/05/2026 12:53

Long story short, I’ve had my current number for years and there’s a bit of emotional baggage attached to it now due to family boundary issues / people having access to it who I don’t really want having access anymore (posted about the situation a few days ago).

I’d already been considering changing it, but every replacement number EE offered me felt worse than my current one, so I kept saying no.

Today they offered me a “gold/VIP” number with triple 7s in it that I genuinely really like and would actually prefer to my current number. Problem is, it costs £102.

I know logically it’s “just a phone number” but equally people keep numbers for years and years, and if I’m going to go through the faff of changing it, I almost feel like I’d rather do it properly and actually like the new number.

Part of me thinks “life’s short, just get the number you want.”

Another part thinks “£102 for digits is objectively insane.”

AIBU?

OP posts:
soupbucket · 15/05/2026 18:55

What a weird thing to be bothered about your mobile number, I think I only know my own, no one knows anyone’s numbers anymore

KilkennyCats · 15/05/2026 18:52

MaryTheMagical · 15/05/2026 18:42

I have a really “nice” number and I can’t tell you how often people say “ooh that’s a great number” when I read it to them for a form or whatever.

Weirdly I have come to take pride in my lovely number and enjoy the compliments.

What in holy hell is a “nice” string of random numbers and what sort of muppets do you associate with that they all rush to admire it?
Mind boggling.

MaryTheMagical · 15/05/2026 18:42

I have a really “nice” number and I can’t tell you how often people say “ooh that’s a great number” when I read it to them for a form or whatever.

Weirdly I have come to take pride in my lovely number and enjoy the compliments.

DecoratingDiva · 15/05/2026 18:37

If you have £100 to send on this and it won’t leave you short for bills and food then do it. If it makes you happy who cares.

Personally I think it is a lot to spend on a phone number but I am capable of frittering that on something equally pointless so who am I to judge?

saltysugar · 15/05/2026 18:23

DH, DC3, DC4 and me have all changed network.
I kept my old number but had a temporary number for a couple of days and the others have new numbers.
All the numbers have triple digits and are easy to remember. For free.

BertieBotts · 15/05/2026 17:57

How can a phone number feel like an upgrade?

Strange. Oh well, £100 isn't much for something which will make you happy for years to come, TBF.

BuildbyNumbere · 15/05/2026 17:55

I think you are insane for even thinking this 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Catwalking · 15/05/2026 17:48

yep defo change it.
edited to add, I confirm i’ve found your reason for change, & fully agree you need to change.
However looking at the vip no’s, are they the sort of number which a spam caller might more easily, ‘make up’?

DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 15/05/2026 17:38

ThatJadeFawn · 15/05/2026 13:08

It’s basically a number with a memorable/repetitive pattern in it (like repeated digits etc.) that networks classify as a “gold” or “VIP” number and charge extra for (there are even platinum numbers that people pay £1k/£2k/£3k for). Most replacement numbers they offered me were random and honestly worse than my current number but this one was the first one that actually felt like an upgrade rather than just different.

Show quote history

'Upgrade' nope I don't get it. It's just a phone number. Unless someone is mentally impaired, remembering your own mobile number shouldn't be difficult & very very very few people will remember other peoples.

of course it's your money & if you want to, it's up to you, but no way would I spend money on having a specific personal mobile number.

i just don't understand? (I don't have to though, you'd probably not understand some of my choices what to spend money on!!)

like another poster has said, I'd just block anyone I didn't want contacting me, why the need to change numbers?

traitorstraitors · 15/05/2026 17:28

I never had this. They’ve never told
me what number they could give me.

VickyEadie · 15/05/2026 17:17

ThatJadeFawn · 15/05/2026 13:08

It’s basically a number with a memorable/repetitive pattern in it (like repeated digits etc.) that networks classify as a “gold” or “VIP” number and charge extra for (there are even platinum numbers that people pay £1k/£2k/£3k for). Most replacement numbers they offered me were random and honestly worse than my current number but this one was the first one that actually felt like an upgrade rather than just different.

Show quote history

I can't for the life of me understand paying for what you think is a "better" number than the others you were offered. You must be very rich, because that's an utter waste of cash.

Aren't these "VIP" numbers really for businesses? Because as PP have said, nobody has to remember anyone's phone number any more. I don't even know my partner's.

Barleycat · 15/05/2026 17:12

I have my full name plus Hotmail. Co uk email address and 5 sevens (including a triple!) In my mobile number. Does that make me a VIP?!

KilkennyCats · 15/05/2026 17:03

ThatJadeFawn · 15/05/2026 13:08

It’s basically a number with a memorable/repetitive pattern in it (like repeated digits etc.) that networks classify as a “gold” or “VIP” number and charge extra for (there are even platinum numbers that people pay £1k/£2k/£3k for). Most replacement numbers they offered me were random and honestly worse than my current number but this one was the first one that actually felt like an upgrade rather than just different.

Show quote history

How were they “worse”? Confused
Nobody needs a memorable mobile number, it just gets stored in other people’s mobiles under your name.
Nobody will have any opinion on what the sequence of numbers is whatsoever.
This is genuinely mystifying.

Error404FucksNotFound · 15/05/2026 17:02

If it's worth it to you then fair enough, you should do it.

awesomeness · 15/05/2026 16:59

I got my daughter a SIM only deal attached to my Vodafone account, 2 months ago, her numbers got 777 in it and its just some random assigned number

MauriceTheMussel · 15/05/2026 16:12

Buy the number!

ColdAsAWitches · 15/05/2026 16:10

ThatJadeFawn · 15/05/2026 13:34

I have not done this multiple times. Stop jumping to conclusions. I literally said in my OP that I have had my number for years.

When I said “every replacement number they gave me” I’m referring to, when you call up they tell you what they can change your number to.

Show quote history

So yes, multiple times! You've rejected multiple numbers because 'they feel worse than my old number'.

WhosThatGirI · 15/05/2026 15:55

What about people like me who put a fake number into websites sometimes whe I don't want to put my number in, and I use all the 7s?

DappledThings · 15/05/2026 15:51

DH has 2 triple numbers in his. The idea that this is somehow more desirable than my number is do weird. Maybe he should sell it!

GreenSmallBird · 15/05/2026 15:48

Well every day’s a school day (my phone number also has triple 7 in it which until now I had no idea was desirable).

If you can afford it and it makes you happy then you don’t need MN permission.

SnappyQuoter · 15/05/2026 15:41

ThatJadeFawn · 15/05/2026 13:34

I have not done this multiple times. Stop jumping to conclusions. I literally said in my OP that I have had my number for years.

When I said “every replacement number they gave me” I’m referring to, when you call up they tell you what they can change your number to.

Show quote history

Utterly insane. Most people glaze over as they read out the number to you. Because it does not matter. Insane.

Somersetbaker · 15/05/2026 15:35

I've had the same number for 30 years+, the only reason I would consider changing it is I was getting calls for Sexy Mimi, asking for a massage, from people with fat fingers who just stab at the keypad and hope they've dialed the right number.

SourdoughSally · 15/05/2026 15:11

I've never heard such a ridiculous load of shite in my life!

It's just a number that nobody knows nor cares about.

I expect those who do care are the same as those with the stupid number plates that they think spells a word, but clearly doesn't.

Absolute nonsense.

RulesControlTheFun · 15/05/2026 14:53

ThatJadeFawn · 15/05/2026 12:53

Long story short, I’ve had my current number for years and there’s a bit of emotional baggage attached to it now due to family boundary issues / people having access to it who I don’t really want having access anymore (posted about the situation a few days ago).

I’d already been considering changing it, but every replacement number EE offered me felt worse than my current one, so I kept saying no.

Today they offered me a “gold/VIP” number with triple 7s in it that I genuinely really like and would actually prefer to my current number. Problem is, it costs £102.

I know logically it’s “just a phone number” but equally people keep numbers for years and years, and if I’m going to go through the faff of changing it, I almost feel like I’d rather do it properly and actually like the new number.

Part of me thinks “life’s short, just get the number you want.”

Another part thinks “£102 for digits is objectively insane.”

AIBU?

I’ve not RTFT but I just bought a cheapo sim for my daughter from Asda and it came with a great number - 3 palindromes (if that’s a thing with numbers). Eg 07870 454111. So you could just try rummaging though PAYG sims to see if you get lucky like she did.