Will I lose my balance?

[Jairzinho]

So what did you buy?

PP deleted both my phones and calling into customer service they refused to acknowledge there was any balance only account.

Only one number I really wanted to keep...too late to port out?

From earlier post.

Thanks for the suggestion @rpz1, but I decided to get a TF Moto G Stylus that I was planning on buying later on anyway and now (try to) use it on this line. Got it new from a deal at the TF eBay store with a promocode.

Very nice phone btw with plenty of space (128GB). The 2021 LTE version I bought from TF is a good deal. A little too big to carry around, so I use it mainly like a mini tablet for browsing, streaming etc. No actual calls.

In your case, I'd keep trying. Try not to get confrontational when talking to them. That's what I do. I put my really friendly voice. The balances cannot be lost unless they expired in the mean time. In my case I had two lines with balances > $100 with expiration date in Feb. I knew how much I had just before the end of 2022. I'd have hated to lose that.

Since your number has been deactivated, I'm almost sure it's too late to port out. It should be in "limbo" now. 60 days or so before is released and put out for recycling, That's what the CSR told me.

[whacker]

For any PPC users needing a convenient, quality device to switch over to, you might want to check out the TracFone eBay store (eBay.com/str/tracfonewireless). They've got the Moto G Pure (3 GB RAM/32 GB storage) for $60; and the Moto G Power (2022 model, 4GB/64GB) for $70. The Pure can come from Simple Mobile, TracFone, or Total by Verizon; all the same. And some Samsungs too. The A03s seems to be in the Pure's class, for $10 less. Don't know how it measures up, but the Pure has a good rep in its price class.

[rpz1]

And just to add to what @Whacker said, you can activate on PP with the sim that comes in the phone (I assume they're all Verizon sims now).
You don't need to buy a PP sim.

[alster]

In the past week, I transferred over my two PP PAYG numbers (one 5 yrs, other>10? old) to 4G VoLTE capable phones.

I ignored the shutdown, and panicked a lil a few days after new year's when I logged in to the portals for my accounts and basically, they were empty. No phones listed, no phone #s listed, no balance listed.

A few hundred dollars worth of air time, and more importantly, the OLDer #.. I assumed the phones would stop working but not that I would lose everything. (lazy, risky and dumb on my part)

I already had for >2yrs one unopened Moto E6 in box (XT2005DL, TF branded, bought for this purpose way back then) so I asked to transfer the 10y.o. old phone's account to that phone, which after a time on hold was done, and the full balance (and a few extra pennies for good measure) was put back. Phew!

Then I had to re-register the new phone in the portal for that account. Everything is totally fine.

For the other account/phone #, PP sent me the free TCL A3 smart phone, which took several days to arrive. Once it did, I went through the same process as above, and all's well that ends well.

For good measure (and since it's free) I am having them send me another A3 smartphone on the first account.

I guess PP received some type of (gov't? or parent company?) subsidy to be offering these phones to existing customers still using antiquated 3G equipment. Pretty good cust svc IMO.

The A3 supports WiFi Calling which is handy, the E6 I believe also does (pretty sure it's capable) but the PP script apparently says not on the VZ network it doesn't (whether that's VZ's rules, or PP's ineptitude. I think someone else here got this exact model activated for WiFi Calling ON TF specific plan..)

So I might end up switching the first line over to the A3 when it arrives too.. or not.. these are backup phones/#s anyway.

The A3 appears rootable too which is nice.

After this episode, and looking into the T&C for PAYG plans, I think that if I had waited MORE than 30 days, my number (and possibly balances) WOULD HAVE been lost. Caveat emptor.

Also, they have 3 "flip phones" they also offer for free, if your transitioning a senior or someone who doesn't want a smart phone.

FYI.

[rpz1]

In the past week, I transferred over my two PP PAYG numbers (one 5 yrs, other>10? old) to 4G VoLTE capable phones.

I ignored the shutdown, and panicked a lil a few days after new year's when I logged in to the portals for my accounts and basically, they were empty. No phones listed, no phone #s listed, no balance listed.

A few hundred dollars worth of air time, and more importantly, the OLDer #.. I assumed the phones would stop working but not that I would lose everything. (lazy, risky and dumb on my part)

I already had for >2yrs one unopened Moto E6 in box (XT2005DL, TF branded, bought for this purpose way back then) so I asked to transfer the 10y.o. old phone's account to that phone, which after a time on hold was done, and the full balance (and a few extra pennies for good measure) was put back. Phew!

Then I had to re-register the new phone in the portal for that account. Everything is totally fine.

For the other account/phone #, PP sent me the free TCL A3 smart phone, which took several days to arrive. Once it did, I went through the same process as above, and all's well that ends well.

For good measure (and since it's free) I am having them send me another A3 smartphone on the first account.

I guess PP received some type of (gov't? or parent company?) subsidy to be offering these phones to existing customers still using antiquated 3G equipment. Pretty good cust svc IMO.

The A3 supports WiFi Calling which is handy, the E6 I believe also does (pretty sure it's capable) but the PP script apparently says not on the VZ network it doesn't (whether that's VZ's rules, or PP's ineptitude. I think someone else here got this exact model activated for WiFi Calling ON TF specific plan..)

So I might end up switching the first line over to the A3 when it arrives too.. or not.. these are backup phones/#s anyway.

The A3 appears rootable too which is nice.

After this episode, and looking into the T&C for PAYG plans, I think that if I had waited MORE than 30 days, my number (and possibly balances) WOULD HAVE been lost. Caveat emptor.

Also, they have 3 "flip phones" they also offer for free, if your transitioning a senior or someone who doesn't want a smart phone.

FYI.

Great info. Hope others that have been worried about losing their balance and number read your case history. And free phones to replace your old to boot !
I have a Moto E4 on PP and an E6 on US Mobile/Vzw. Neither gets wifi calling. I haven't bothered chasing it since wifi calling isn't a must have for me.

[Bill in NC]

In the past week, I transferred over my two PP PAYG numbers (one 5 yrs, other>10? old) to 4G VoLTE capable phones.

I ignored the shutdown, and panicked a lil a few days after new year's when I logged in to the portals for my accounts and basically, they were empty. No phones listed, no phone #s listed, no balance listed.

A few hundred dollars worth of air time, and more importantly, the OLDer #.. I assumed the phones would stop working but not that I would lose everything. (lazy, risky and dumb on my part)

I already had for >2yrs one unopened Moto E6 in box (XT2005DL, TF branded, bought for this purpose way back then) so I asked to transfer the 10y.o. old phone's account to that phone, which after a time on hold was done, and the full balance (and a few extra pennies for good measure) was put back. Phew!

Then I had to re-register the new phone in the portal for that account. Everything is totally fine.

For the other account/phone #, PP sent me the free TCL A3 smart phone, which took several days to arrive. Once it did, I went through the same process as above, and all's well that ends well.

For good measure (and since it's free) I am having them send me another A3 smartphone on the first account.

I guess PP received some type of (gov't? or parent company?) subsidy to be offering these phones to existing customers still using antiquated 3G equipment. Pretty good cust svc IMO.

The A3 supports WiFi Calling which is handy, the E6 I believe also does (pretty sure it's capable) but the PP script apparently says not on the VZ network it doesn't (whether that's VZ's rules, or PP's ineptitude. I think someone else here got this exact model activated for WiFi Calling ON TF specific plan..)

So I might end up switching the first line over to the A3 when it arrives too.. or not.. these are backup phones/#s anyway.

The A3 appears rootable too which is nice.

After this episode, and looking into the T&C for PAYG plans, I think that if I had waited MORE than 30 days, my number (and possibly balances) WOULD HAVE been lost. Caveat emptor.

Also, they have 3 "flip phones" they also offer for free, if your transitioning a senior or someone who doesn't want a smart phone.

FYI.

Well, I was able to get my old phone line back today, so that's more than 30 days after the 3G shutdown.

I already had a 4G-capable, Tracfone-branded LG flip phone NIB I had forgotten about.

Once the phone transfer was done I was transferred to another department that found my old balance.

Thanks to all for their advice!