PAC code- someone explain to this technophobe

[Morph22010]

I am changing networks. I have pac code. Do I order my new phone and wait for it to arrive then tell the new supplier my pac code or do I do something when I’m ordering

The PAC code is needed by your new network to acquire and assign your old number to one of its SIM cards.

It's irrelevant to whoever supplies the handset.

But how do I work this in practise? I have a contract phone with three which is at end of contract a few months ago but they is a technical issue at their end so I can’t upgrade without going into a shop, which isn’t practical for me for various reasons. So I want to order a new monthly pay phone but if I go onto say virgin media and order a pay monthly phone and sim how do I get my number transferred to it rather than just end up with a new number and contract

I switched to GiffGaff and I could enter my PAC online to transfer the number. I imagine other networks are similar.

Ok thanks I will try ordering and see what it says

I ordered a SIM from GiffGaff and requested my PAC from O2 and when I put the new SIM in my existing phone I entered the PAC online. I did it whilst on holiday abroad. Really straightforward.

www.virginmedia.com/help/mobile/keep-my-number#leaving

Read the help sections here if you're going to Virgin,

Thanks hopefully it’ll work out