To get your EE PAC code, text PAC to 65075 from your EE phone. The code arrives within a minute, it is free, and it lasts 30 days. Give it to the network you are joining and your number moves, usually the next weekday.
There is one catch that stops a lot of people when switching networks: only the account holder can request a PAC. If the phone sits on a family plan or a work account in someone else’s name, that text will get you nowhere.
In short: text PAC to 65075 → code back in about a minute → hand it to your new provider → number moves the following working day. Free, and no phone call needed — as long as the account is in your name.
How to get a PAC code from EE
You can request a PAC code three ways with EE, and they differ in speed more than you would expect.
| Route | How | How fast |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Text PAC to 65075 from the EE number you want to keep | Within a minute |
| Phone | Call 150 from an EE handset, or 07953 966 250 from any other phone | On the call, or by text within two hours |
| Online | Sign in, then Plans & Subscriptions → Manage Mobile → choose the number → Leave EE → Switching to a new provider | Up to two working days |
Text if you can. Ofcom requires a texted request to be answered within a minute, but allows an online request to take up to two full days — so the route that feels most convenient is the one that keeps you waiting longest.
If you do ring 150, choose option 2 for the standard menu and then the option for thinking of leaving EE. That routes you to the team who can issue the code rather than general support.
Why your text gets ignored: the ownership rule
This is the part that catches people out, and it is worth understanding before you spend an afternoon on hold.
EE will only issue a porting authorisation code to the person named on the bill. If you use the phone every day but your partner, parent or employer is named on the bill, you are the user of that number rather than its owner, and EE will not give you a code for it. That is a contractual position rather than an obstruction, and front-line staff cannot override it.
If the phone is a work handset, the number belongs to your employer. They can transfer it to you if they agree, but they are under no obligation to, and plenty of people have discovered on their last day that the number they have used for years is not theirs to take.
How to move the number into your name
The fix is a change of ownership, and it has to happen before any PAC can be issued to you.
The change of ownership process
- The current account holder calls 150 from an EE phone and asks to transfer ownership of the number.
- You need to be available to accept the transfer, so it is easiest if you are both on the call.
- You pass a credit check, because you are taking on the contract.
- Once the account is in your name, request the code the normal way.
Allow a few days for this. It is not instant, and it has to finish before the switch can begin.
One more restriction worth knowing: if your account has several numbers on it, the text route will not work even for the account holder. The shortcode cannot tell which line you mean. Use the online journey or call 150 instead.
Using the code once you have it
- Give the code to the network you are joining, not to EE
- Keep the EE SIM in your phone and the account open until the switch finishes
- Transfers run on weekdays only, so a Friday evening request lands in the new week
- On switch day EE service stops first, then your new SIM takes over
- Your EE account closes by itself — do not cancel it yourself
Cancelling before the transfer completes is the one dependable way to lose the number for good.
The message EE sends you contains more than the code. Providers have to tell you what leaving costs, so it also sets out any early termination charge and whatever remains on a handset plan. Requesting the code commits you to nothing, so read that figure before you act on it.
PAC or STAC — check which one you asked for
- PAC to 65075 — you leave EE and keep your number
- STAC code to 75075 — you leave EE and give the number up
Read the reply before you forward anything. Sending a STAC when you meant a PAC is one of the few mistakes that cannot be undone, and it matters most when the number is worth something — a premium mobile number released this way is simply gone.
Before you switch
- Move your security codes first. Banking, work logins and account recovery that text your number should point somewhere else before switch day.
- Check the name on the account matches what you give the network you are joining. Mismatches are among the most common reasons a transfer fails.
- Confirm who the account holder is if there is any doubt. Finding out mid-switch wastes the 30-day window.
Common questions
Does EE charge for a PAC code?
No. The code is free on every UK network. Anything you are asked to pay is money already owed on your contract.
Can I get one on pay as you go?
Yes. Pay as you go and pay monthly use the same process, and the account holder rule applies to both.
What if my code expires?
Ask for another. There is no limit and no charge, and the new code resets the 30 days.
Can I request a PAC for just one line on a multi-line account?
Yes, but not by text. Sign in online and pick that number, or call 150 and tell them which line you mean.
How long does the switch take?
One working day once the receiving network has the code. Weekends and bank holidays do not count.
The short version
If the EE account is yours, text the shortcode and you will have the code in a minute. If it is not, no amount of asking will produce one until ownership moves to you, so start that conversation first rather than last. Either way, read the message for exit charges, hand the code to your new provider, and leave the EE contract alone while the transfer runs. The full process across every network, including what to do when a switch stalls for days, is in the guide to PAC codes.
Sources
- EE — Switching away from EE, on the text, phone and online routes and the multi-line restriction.
- Ofcom — Switching mobile provider, on free codes, response times by request method, 30-day validity and one working day transfers.
Last reviewed 5 October 2026. Network processes change; this guide is re-checked when they do.