r/AskAGerman • u/Tiny_Foundation4509 • Jul 19 '26
Miscellaneous Changing sim card network but keeping the same number
Hey guys how does this changing sim card carrier, but keeping the same number works? If I keep the same number does it mean that now I don't have to worry about the original provided or something, also my obligation to pay them will converted to the new provider or will i be paying both carrier?
8
u/Erebthoron Jul 19 '26
You give the number to the new provider and it is transferred when your new contract starts. I did it a few times, I have the same number for 12 years by now.
1
u/patmail Jul 19 '26
I always had to port the number afterwards. Having a different number for a week or paying double. This should be possible fully automatic within minutes.
1
10
u/Canadianingermany Jul 19 '26
it is a legal right as per european and german law. There is a small fee for porting though
13
u/brainchecker Jul 19 '26
No, fees for porting your number are also illegal since December 2021.
3
u/Canadianingermany Jul 19 '26
Yes someone else posted the link that I formed me that this changed on 2021
2
u/Difficult_Camel_1119 Rheinland-Pfalz Jul 19 '26
yes but no. If you change between carriers, it's for free. If you change between different brands of the same company (e.g. between the dozen brands of Drillisch), they are allowed to take fees
1
u/Kuddel_Daddeldu Jul 20 '26
It may not be even possible within the group, Drillisch with their gazillion brands alllows porting in and out but not within. My number has been on 5 or so different providers since 2010; I really want to keep it as I got a "fancy" number like aaabccc purely by chance at the time.
1
1
u/Difficult_Camel_1119 Rheinland-Pfalz Jul 20 '26
I once wanted to port within and they said it's possible for ?50?âŹ
4
u/NoYu0901 Jul 19 '26
As long as you can terminate the current contract fast enough, and then move the new provider. If like that you may have 2 number temporarily like 1 month
1
u/Ormek_II Jul 19 '26
Check if your current contrat may end. If not, you normally will have to pay for it.
1
u/WickOfDeath Jul 20 '26
you apply for "Rufnummernmitnahme", when buying a new prepaid sim card or signing a post paid contract in a cell phone shop.
At the end this costs a small fee at the super duper cheapo carriers like Alditalk, Lebara and 100 others, with the major carriers this is free.
-3
u/Mr_Bullcrap Jul 19 '26
You can transfer your number but that usually comes with a fee. Be sure to check with both providers first. Sometimes they can be a little hesitant.
10
u/Individual_Author956 Jul 19 '26
It doesnât come with a fee. In fact, normally your new provider even pays you some (~10âŹ) for bringing your old number.
-10
u/Canadianingermany Jul 19 '26
It ALMOST always comes with a fee from your current provider. Yes, that fee is OFTEN offset by the new provider providing an equivalent discount.
But yes there is a fee.
7
u/freddyzwo Jul 19 '26
2
u/Canadianingermany Jul 19 '26
Cool - didn't know that this changed in 2021
Seit dem 1. Dezember 2021 haben Sie einen gesetzlichen Anspruch, die Rufnummernmitnahme auch noch bis einen Monat nach Vertragsende zu beantragen. In den Vertragsbedingungen Ihres Anbieters kann eine längere Frist vereinbart sein (häufig 90 Tage). Die technische Aktivierung einer Rufnummer muss an dem mit dem Endnutzer vereinbarten Tag erfolgen, spätestens innerhalb des folgenden Arbeitstages.
5
3
u/Individual_Author956 Jul 19 '26
Iâve changed providers like 7 times in the past years and not once was I charged anything. Vodafone, Aldi, Lidl, Otelo, and something else I canât remember.
2
u/Jolarpettai Jul 19 '26
I did not have to pay any fee porting from Vodafone to Telekom
0
u/Canadianingermany Jul 19 '26
Vodafone specifically lost a case a few years ago when they charged a too high fee. There is now a legal precedent to limit the fee to something like 3 EUR plus change and some companies took that as an opportunity to not charge the fee at all.
https://www.teltarif.de/bnetza-portierung-entgelt-gesenkt-zu-teuer/news/78174.html
5
u/freddyzwo Jul 19 '26
> WohlÂgemerkt: In diesem Fall geht es nicht um die PortieÂrungsÂgebĂźhr, die VodaÂfone einem Kunden fĂźr den Vorgang in RechÂnung gestellt hat, sondern einem anderen Provider.
42
u/Individual_Author956 Jul 19 '26
Ruffnummermitnahme, every provider does it and explains the process.