Can deactivate the service for one year?

[ratnayakeravi]

I am leaving Canada for one year and want to know can I discontinue service for one year and activate and get the same number after?

[dust2dust]

@darlicious- Add a buck 27 exchange. Numberbarn is in USD. So staying is just a little more work.

[darlicious]

@slugboy6000 

Its really not much cheaper....$2/month+$5 port in fee. 12 months×$2=$24+$5=$29. Under the rewards program the minimum reward=$2. $15×3 renewals=$45 - $6 (3×$2 autopay reward)=$39.

Number barn : No need to worry about reactivating your account every 88/89 days but the hassle of porting in and out. Loss of rewards or points.

Public Mobile : You must set reminders to reactivate your plan services 3 times and suspend on day 30 via lost/stolen before midnight eastern. Stay on the rewards program or continue to earn points while away (minimum)=10pts (anniversary)+2.05pts (points back)=($)12.05pts. $45 - 12.05=$32.95.

[dust2dust]

@softech- I was replying to the other user about numberbarn. I'm not taking out any of my Public numbers. The other provider was out of a corporate Telus account.

[softech]

Yes, the new rewards is the only thing to consider.  Other than that,  uts an active line and your friend can still call you.   You don't have to worry about missing the 90 days deadline

@dust2dust which provider you are trying? 

[dust2dust]

@slugboy6000- I'm also trying out that service from another provider. So far so good. But the problem with doing that here is that if you choose to come back then you lose the rewards if you've been here more than about half a year. So I would prefer the pay every 4 months method. More expensive, but I like the rewards.

Interestingly, porting out a corporate number with account permission already in place did not send a confirmation text. A negative option text was sent late at night and then early in the morning it was done. Effectively no ability to stop. I guess because it was a corporate account with permission. Took about 2 days.

[slugboy6000]

This is what I've done.

Port out and park your number at numberbarn.com.  They'll hold your number for a small monthly fee for as long as you need and you'll also get some useful benefits with that service.  Highly recommended.

[softech]

@ratnayakeravi if you are going away for a full year and have a chance to be longer  and you don't want to run the risk of forgotten to come back and renew every 90 days, an alternative is to port your number away to VoIP app like Fongo.  It's only $25 to port into Fongo and free to port out after 3 months.   At that time, you can decide to come back to PM or other carrier with better deals then.

Good is that you will  still be able to use that number on the VoIP app.  But the bad is that if you are on Old reward system, when you come back to PM to reactivate,  you will be on new reward system 

[darlicious]

@ratnayakeravi 

You can keep your account and phone number for about $45/355 days. Just be extra careful and set several reminders to reactivate around day 85. Here is a summary of your options.....

Spoiler

1. You can turn off autopay and allow the account to suspend at the of your current 30 day cycle but this is your least advantageous option. Pay and reactivate by day 85 or so.
2. If you have an account balance that exceeds your plan amount then you need to suspend via the lost/stolen feature in your account before midnight eastern on the evening of your renewal. Then on day 85 or so resume your service to pay and reactivate.
3. Suspending via lost/stolen before midnight eastern will keep your voicemail active allowing you retrieve voicemail and any verification sent by phone calls. However your rewards will not be applied to your account. Moderator/CSA contact after paying and reactivating is necessary to have the rewards applied manually.
4. Voicemail can be accessed by calling your pm number from a different phone by calling your phone # and pressing * once connected and entering your 4 digit voicemail pin #.
5. If you don't have an account balance or enough balance to cover your plan amount you can suspend via lost/stolen after midnight but before 2 am eastern on the day of your renewal. Once your rewards have been applied (usually by 12:15 am et) then suspend your account. Voicemail access will be lost.
6. Switching to the $15 plan with rewards helping to cover a partial or full amount of your plan allows you to call forward your pm number to your fongo or textnow number before you leave Canada.. Now any incoming calling to your pm number will ring thru to your fongo or textnow

[Meow · Accepted solution]

You can 'pause' your PM Plan.

Options are:

1. Change your plan to $15

1.1. Remove autopay. Your plan will be suspended on next renewal and wil stay suspended up to 90 days. Login at around 85th day and pay manually for the next month. Let plan expire again; repeat.

1.2. Leave autopay and credit card; You will be charged every month $15+tax. Monitor account in case autopay fails to pay manually.

2. Load your account with $180+. In that case even if autopay fails funds will be taken from your account and service will continue.

3. Lend your account to somebody else (friend/family). Leave autopay but change credit card info. Let them use your number for a year and after you get back just change credit card info.

[BKNS27]

@ratnayakeravi 

Unfortunately, you will loss your number for that length of time unless you continue to pay into a lower plan to keep the number.

90 days is the maximum if you stop payment on your plan to keep your number.

[hairbag1]

Suggestion: reduce plan to cheapest option ($15)...give sim to trusted friend to use if he pays the $15 for the time you're away.

Suggestion; reduce to cheapest plan ($15), load $180 in Available Funds for the next 12 renewals. Then you'll have the number when you return in a year.

Hope one of these suggestions work for you.

Safe travels.

[iliketotalk]

@ratnayakeravi @Hi no sorry after 90 days suspended your account will close permanently 

[computergeek541]

Sorry, but the phone number will be lost and likely re-assigned to someone else after that period of time