O2? I've had no phone connection for 6 days.

[EnchantedAutumn]

I am in a rural area and my phone has been reading 'no service' for over a week. I tried to contact O2 via my ipad but they won't allow me to create a password without a passcode text - and I can't receive texts!
I need the bloody thing for work and am just about managing to deal with stuff via ipad, but am stuffed when out and about.

I have no local O2 stores anywhere close by, and am having to use my DP's and neighbours' phone when it's vital, but I am goosed here.

I am die to buy a new phone, am overdue in fact, and will be going over to EE as I can get a great deal with my broadband. Suffice to say I am not in a good mood with O2 and have had severe issues with connectivity since they took over from Virgin.

What to do?
Order new phone as fast as poss and get my new EE running? Will I be able to use the same phone number if my old phone is still with O2? Aaaaagh!

Any advice very welcome.

Just to add, it isn't my location, i have family with O2 in Manchester and Chester who are out of service too, all of us to varying degrees.

It could be as simple as your sim card being warped, happened to me too.

You can indeed port your number over to a new network, you'll need a code from o2 to do so.

Thanks Crook, I can't receive texts so the code would likely be impossible. My sister and friend are also having issues with them although not as bad as I am.

They have been pretty unreliable since the switch from Virgin mobile, which I used for 10 yrs with no issues whatsoever. It's infuriating, I am sure I was better connected in 1993

I'm sure you've tried this, but have you turned your phone on and off?

Haha, I love you, will try that right now!

Just a note too. Unless you were thinking of changing your phone you don't need a new one. Just a new sim. Giffgaff could have a new sim out to you in a few days. They are pay as you go

I have an iphone 6, it won't work with my earpods and I can't use many apps that I need regularly, such as trainline, etc. I ought to have bought a new one a long time ago, I am still on an ancient tarif of 8.99

Very stubborn with phones, although my ipad and laptop are new.

O2 is awful in my area , I'm part of a group on fb and every member is having problems with the terrible service . I've had refunds from o2 for most of this contract. I'm having to pay for a sim only deal just to get signal and I live on a high street in a town in Central UK not rural !!
Complain !! I've had the same spiel turn your phone on and off , go into o2 and get a new sim , is it your phone? (Brand new phone and contract at this point !) O2 is absolutely SHOCKING nowadays in most areas not just yours. My boss has same issues , we can't use our phones at work . It's appalling. Google and you will find lots and lots of people having issues with o2.

Reset my phone and it seems to be working now
Connectivity has been dreadful since the switch many months ago, so will proceed to buy new phone and get on with it.

If I buy the new one, will i have to end my old contract before going with EE? I want to keep my number so have no idea if I can run 2 phones with same number at the same time. Would prefer to limit my time without a connected device.

Yes Doglover I am hearing this a lot!

That's great news OP!