Lowest Price to Keep Inactive Mobile Numbers

snuke on 29/09/2025 - 19:06

I have had a mobile number for a few decades, but barely used it due to work supplied phone.
Until this month I have been on a Vodafone Post Paid plan that has not existed in over a decade, where I only had to pay for any usage. So no usage = no monthly bill.
They killed this last month and pushed me onto a $10 per month plan, with $5 credit per month for the first 12 months.

I have only received to this number for the last 10+ years (things like an extra Kayo Phone number etc..), never called or texted out, so even $5 is paying for 100% more than my usage.

If I switch to pre-paid plan on Vodafone but don't recharge for 90 days, I lose the number. All recharge costs seem way heaps mega more than is justified for a never used number.

What are my options to maintain a number that will effectively never be used until I leave my company that will have the lowest cost possible?

I am fine with churning from carrier to carrier as often as required, it's a small hassle many of you already do to get the best monthly deal.

Thanks All.

Mobile

Comments

  • AustriaBargain on 29/09/2025 - 19:14
    +1

    You're just using your work phone and number for everything now? That doesn't sound like a good idea.

    • snuke on 29/09/2025 - 19:32

      Have been for over a decade.
      My phone, their number.

      • AustriaBargain on 29/09/2025 - 19:40

        Is your myGov set up with your work number?

        • snuke on 29/09/2025 - 19:51

          Yes, it's been my main contact given out for over a decade as I just wasn't using the other.
          Good point though, and again, fine to have MY number for all of these things in case it all went to shit overnight.
          It would just be receiving SMS confirmation, where proper 2FA isn't available. I have My number set on an E-SIM on my phone, but I have that turned off 99.9% of the time to save battery as it's pointless to be on. I only turn it in when I know there will be an incoming confirmation text.

          Something like what asajidmib and JV is advising is what I was thinking.

          • cashless on 29/09/2025 - 20:43
            +4

            @snuke: What @AustriaBargain is trying to say is “divorce yourself immediately from your work phone number”. Tomorrow you may be retrenched and you may lose access to all those important finance related services.
            If that happens, you’re screwed

            • snuke on 30/09/2025 - 09:01

              @cashless: Yep, that came through quite clear.

      • Nillionaire on 29/09/2025 - 20:33

        Yikes

  • sajidmib on 29/09/2025 - 19:38

    I had a work phone for a decade, i retained the number and wanting to keep it active,.for just in case but never kept my work number as my main number.

    CLSS … i am on aldimobile its $5 sim valid for 90 days, top it up again for $15 and its valid for 365 days. Keep it in a dual sim phone but do use your main number keep work number for work purposes. I have learned it the hard way.

  • jv on 29/09/2025 - 19:39
    +1

    $10 per year from Amaysim still works for me.

    • CodeXD on 29/09/2025 - 19:42

      It is $10 for the first year, then $15 on-going

      • jv on 29/09/2025 - 19:49

        Nope, i just renewed a few weeks back for $10

        • CodeXD on 29/09/2025 - 19:51

          Please teach me your ways. Amaysim said I needed to recharge $15 to add 365 days to my prepaid plan

          • jv on 29/09/2025 - 19:53

            @CodeXD: It's on their website…

            https://help.amaysim.com.au/hc/en-au/articles/12887109707919…

            (keep it quiet…)

            • CodeXD on 29/09/2025 - 19:58

              @jv: So when you log onto your amaysim account, it says you are on 'as you go' with $10 credit and 365 days from when you recharged?

              I…don't think adding $10 gives you 365 days?

              • jv on 29/09/2025 - 20:10
                -1

                @CodeXD:

                I…don't think adding $10 gives you 365 days?

                It does for me…

                Adding any credit keeps the amount from expiring for a year… It was in the T&Cs when I joined.

                • tenpercent on 29/09/2025 - 20:46

                  @jv: Is it still in the T&Cs?

                  • jv on 29/09/2025 - 20:51

                    @tenpercent: If they changed them, they are required to notify me and I've received no such notification.

    • tenpercent on 29/09/2025 - 20:45

      Thought you were with Woolies.

      • jv on 29/09/2025 - 20:51

        I have an amaysim e-sim…

        • sajidmib on 30/09/2025 - 18:11

          Amaysim is $15 recharge as well

          • jv on 01/10/2025 - 00:54

            @sajidmib: Mine cost $10 to recharge

  • sajidmib on 29/09/2025 - 21:11

    Just try the bugger old aldimobile sim, works for me or you and the whole world.

  • paul02 on 30/09/2025 - 07:52
    +1

    Aldi PAYG $15 year and it accumulates so if you need to use it for calls/text/data it's there. You will get a text before the year is up to recharge.

    • DoctorCalculon on 30/09/2025 - 19:26

      Amaysim used to be $10 recharge per year into your PAYG credit. Now they have upped it to $15.

      • surfingedge on 30/09/2025 - 23:37

        What JV is trying to say is that you can still top up $10 by sending a text.

        Buying the $10 7 day plan will also renew the sim for a year, but obviously you won't be able to call or text after 7 days.

        Even if you have to top up $15, after one year you can use $10 of the credit to buy the 7 day plan and that will renew the number for another year.

        • DoctorCalculon on 01/10/2025 - 00:15

          Even if you have to top up $15, after one year you can use $10 of the credit to buy the 7 day plan and that will renew the number for another year.

          Yes. Either recharge (if you have <$10 credit), or spend at min $10 of your credit for 365 days of keep alive.

  • Ryk on 01/10/2025 - 07:29
    +1

    Lebara $10 - pay as you go, 365 days. A true, ye/olde PAYG plan - If you dont use the credit, and recharge, it rolls over.

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