# Moving a giffgaff Number to CTExcel > The PAC route is official, but a suspended number, referral credit and discount code must each be checked before paying. _Source: X tutorial; giffgaff, CTExcel and Ofcom official guidance · 2026-07-28 · 7 min read_ Canonical: https://iyu.app/e/giffgaff-to-ctexcel-pac-guide ## The 60-second version A giffgaff-to-CTExcel port uses the official PAC process, but a suspended line and promotional offer require separate verification. **Key points** - Use PAC, not STAC, when keeping the old number. - giffgaff supports an online PAC request and says the code lasts 30 days. - CTExcel requires an activated SIM/eSIM and warns of a brief interruption. - Official CTExcel pages show one to three working days depending on the screen. - The £3 referral and `DEAL50OFF` claims are conditional and not guaranteed. - No service use for 90 days can put the CTExcel number at risk. **Verdict.** Get the PAC first. It is the clearest test that the number remains portable; only then evaluate activation and price. ## Full explainer > **⚑ Caveat:** The PAC workflow is supported by official guidance. The X author's suspended-line result, £3 referral credit and `DEAL50OFF` code are not independently guaranteed; the linked purchase URL contains a referral code. ### The takeaway — Three separate questions The post combines three issues that should not be treated as one claim: whether the number can still be ported, how CTExcel processes a PAC, and whether a promotion applies. Only the standard porting process is broadly confirmed. - **30 days** — giffgaff says a PAC remains valid - **1–3 days** — CTExcel's own pages show different working-day estimates - **90 days** — CTExcel says no service use can lead to termination ### Step one — Get the right code Use a **PAC** to keep the giffgaff number. A **STAC** ends the old service without transferring that number. giffgaff lists text, phone and online account routes for obtaining these codes. - **Online:** Log in to giffgaff Profile and settings; useful when the SIM cannot text. - **Text:** Send `PAC` to `65075` from the giffgaff line. - **Phone:** Call `43431` from the line. - **Validity:** Submit the PAC within 30 days or request another one. > **i** giffgaff says the request must be made in the UK. If a SIM was automatically deactivated for inactivity, its help page says to ask an agent within 30 days of deactivation. ### Step two — Confirm the number is still portable A service stop does not prove that the number has already been released, but it also does not guarantee recovery. The safest checkpoint is whether giffgaff actually issues a valid PAC for that account and number. > Do not buy the destination SIM on the assumption that a suspended number must still be portable. ### Step three — Activate CTExcel before porting CTExcel's official flow is: obtain a SIM or eSIM, activate it, then submit the porting application with the old operator's PAC. CTExcel currently says physical SIMs and eSIMs must be activated in the UK or EU. > **⚑ Caveat:** The X post describes proxy and location-spoofing techniques. They are not official activation methods, may violate service terms and can fail; they are intentionally omitted here. ### Timing — Expect a short handover window One CTExcel screen says the transfer is expected in one working day; another says the process normally takes one to three working days. Weekends and bank holidays matter, and CTExcel warns that service can be briefly interrupted. - **Before:** Keep account access, PAC and both SIMs available. - **During:** Calls, messages or data may temporarily fail. - **After:** Wait for the completion notice, then test inbound and outbound calls and SMS. ### Promotion — Treat the £3 and code as conditional The linked order URL contains `recommendCode=CHQS`, so it is a referral path. The post also names `DEAL50OFF`. CTExcel's site shows changing welcome and referral offers, but we could not establish a stable official page promising this exact £3-plus-discount combination for every buyer. - Check whether the checkout visibly applies the code before payment. - Read the activation and spending requirements for any credit. - Compare the renewal price, not only the first payment. - Capture the offer terms shown at checkout in case support is needed. ### Retention — Porting is not the end CTExcel's customer terms say that 90 days without mobile-service use can automatically disconnect the service, ending the agreement and losing the remaining credit and telephone number. Individual plans may add activation or usage requirements. > **✓** Best order: obtain a valid PAC, confirm UK/EU activation is feasible, verify the final checkout terms, activate the new SIM, then submit the port. ## Primary sources - [Original X tutorial by @realNyarime](https://x.com/realNyarime/status/2081746623659643274) - [giffgaff: Getting a PAC or STAC to leave giffgaff](https://help.giffgaff.com/en/articles/635745-getting-a-pac-or-stac-to-leave-giffgaff) - [giffgaff account PAC request](https://www.giffgaff.com/profile/details/requestpac) - [CTExcel: Number portability](https://www.ctexcel.com/uk/numberPortability) - [CTExcel: Customer service terms](https://www.ctexcel.com/uk/termsService/0) - [Ofcom: Switching mobile phone provider](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/switching-provider/switching-mobile-phone-provider/) --- _Published by iyu (https://iyu.app) — the day's AI news, checked against primary sources and rewritten in plain language. Free to quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL._