Short answer: On Telus (Pay As You Go), your number is at risk after 90 days with a zero balance. Otherwise the account is automatically deactivated and the number lost.
How long you have on Telus (Pay As You Go)
A Telus (Pay As You Go) number you don't use won't last forever — here's the deadline that matters. On Telus (Pay As You Go), the number is at risk after 90 days with a zero balance. If your balance is $300+ with no 30-day plan, Telus auto-adds its cheapest 30-day plan to keep you active.
A working SIM that still shows signal doesn't mean the number is still yours — on prepaid, the number is tied to activity, not to whether the card powers on. (See what happens when you stop using a prepaid SIM for the full lifecycle.)
Can you get your Telus (Pay As You Go) number back?
Keep a balance or an auto-renewing plan; unused credits carry over for 7 days if you top up in time. Otherwise the account is automatically deactivated and the number lost. Once a number has been released to the pool and reassigned to someone else, it's gone for good.
What counts as keeping it active
For almost every carrier the rule is the same: it has to be something they bill — an outgoing call or SMS, paid mobile data, or a top-up or paid add-on. Internet apps like WhatsApp, iMessage and FaceTime run over data and usually don't count, and incoming calls and voicemail often don't either. The cheapest way to stay active is one small billable action before the deadline — more in how to keep a prepaid SIM active without spending money.
Comparing carriers? See the full prepaid expiration policies table for the US, UK, Australia and Canada.
Don't lose your Telus (Pay As You Go) number by accident
KeepSim gives this line its own countdown, warns you on your Home Screen before the deadline, and lets you fire a keep-alive action in one tap. Local-first, no account.
Get KeepSim on the App StoreCommon questions
How long before Telus (Pay As You Go) recycles your number?
On Telus (Pay As You Go), your number is at risk after 90 days with a zero balance. Otherwise the account is automatically deactivated and the number lost.
Can you get your Telus (Pay As You Go) number back?
Keep a balance or an auto-renewing plan; unused credits carry over for 7 days if you top up in time. Once the number has been released and reassigned, getting it back is almost never possible.
Does using WhatsApp keep the number active?
Usually no. WhatsApp, iMessage and similar apps run over data or Wi-Fi and don't count as carrier activity. You typically need a billable call, text, paid data, or a top-up.
Last verified June 2026 against TELUS Service Terms (PDF). Carrier policies change often and depend on your exact plan and country — treat this as a starting point, not legal advice, and confirm the current rule with Telus (Pay As You Go) before relying on it. KeepSim is a personal reminder tool; it does not provide telecom service or keep numbers active on your behalf.