Not possible to keep number when changin contracts

[SandraR]

My 3 sons and I have been with Three for years, and during the years we have renewed our contracts and kept our numbers by using a PAC code

Last week, since my youngest son's contract had finished, I looked online and I found a good deal still with Three so I bought it and requested a PAC from my current number

After getting an error message, I called Three and was informed that if I am already with Three, I can't transfer the number between contracts but  that had never happened before

Is there any way around this? I don't want to change my phone number and have to inform all my contacts

[PeteG]

Hello, Sandra. 

Welcome to the Three Community. 

A PAC has never worked for moving the number from 1 account to another, it only allows you to move network. Normally, an upgrade should be done instead. An upgrade does not require the number to be moved as it's automatically retained. It sounds like that's what you may have done in the past. 

The only way to get the number onto the other account would be to use the PAC to port the number out onto another network. It's best to use a PAYG SIM with the other network so that you're not obligated to stay with them. Then get another PAC from them, and port the number back into the newer Three account that you've set up. 

Pete.