[Lou Lepin]

Any easy way to get them back?


Yes but my previous phone was trashed. So no phone contacts exist except for a few on email. MS should have warned us that this could happen. Transition was swift and easy with no chance to customize.

update;
Third tech mentioned a MS website that would have to be used. I somehow transferred the contact data to this website and than to my phone.Techs worked hard and were politely responsive but only third had the answer.

[Chintan Gohel]

Any easy way to get them back?

make sure your account is signed in and syncing of contacts is enabled

[Lou Lepin]

Synced now but no phone numbers to sync to.