Why can't you transfer (port) existing number with existing network?

aires

Okay so my wife is on a cotract with T-mobile and we've just got her a new phone with a more suitable contract, but still staying with T-mobile.

I've read lots about porting your number if you wish to keep it and you're moving to a new network, but if you're staying on the same network you can't transfer your number across from one contract to another.

Why is this?

I read you could transfer you contract number to a Pay-Go phone and then from that Pay-Go phone to your new contract. But that seems a very long winded way of doing it, so why don't networks who you're staying with let you keep the same number if you want to?

Jon_01

Its called a 'backdoor upgrade' and isn't allowed on any of the networks. I think it's from the time when new contracts were better than upgrade offers (but I could be wrong).
The method you list at the end of your post is the only way to get round it, sorry...

Woby_Tide

it's just the way their business model is set up. if you had upgraded/changed contract via T-Mobile you would have kept the same number and benefitted from the "customer loyalty" from their retentions team. You've taken the option of a "new contract" which has an element of "new customer" discount built into it and is usually a better deal than what you get from upgrading which is why you presumably took this option. To try and disocurage this they make it awkward to migrate your number between contracts.

Abbafan1972

My hubby has done this with O2. Transfer the number you want to keep to PAYG. Then start a new contract with the same provider, you will be able to transfer the PAYG number across.

lawbunny

It costs them more the 'acquire' new customers (ie new customers get better deals). So to discourage existing customers from just taking up the better new deals on offer, rather than upgrading, they don't allow you to port your number within the same network.

spirit

aires,

the reason is that you have not ported or migrated anywhere. To port means to move service provider and/or network.

All you have done is to take out another new contract rather than upgrade the existing one.

jfyi

To transfer your old number to the same provider. Transfer old number to alternate "pay as you go" provider, this can take upto a month. Once porting taken place, tranfer old number to previous provider

Abbafan1972

jfyi wrote: »

To transfer your old number to the same provider. Transfer old number to alternate "pay as you go" provider, this can take upto a month. Once porting taken place, tranfer old number to previous provider

Thanks, but this thread is over a year old. :eek:

gaz666_2

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

Thanks, but this thread is over a year old. :eek:

It's over three years old now but the rules haven't changed. I am trying to do the same on the three network. But because I have opted for a new and much cheaper contract from a third party, I have to go through all of the above with first transferring my existing number to PAYG and then transferring the number to my new contract.

It still takes 30 days (the notice period for your old contract), but it's worth it though, as the deal I got elsewhere was so much better!

Buzby

The service you are talkin about (within the same network) is called migration, not porting, and the networks do not have to follow OFCOM's rules. As discussed in this thread, the reasons for doing what they do are relevant, it is a promotional price for new customers.

kevinx_green

This still does not seem like a positive move even from the networks point of view. I find myself in the same position, hence stumbling upon this thread. I can find a much better deal offered to so called 'new customers' on a number of networks as well as my own (O2) at moneysupermarket. So I find myself initially thinking that I am happy enough with O2, not had much dealings but coverage is good and nothing has went wrong throughout my last 2 years, so ill just stay with them. But to find out I have to go through the hassel of porting to a payg then back to the new contract, all while having to wait a month and phone up numerous call centers is smply not worth it. Therefor I have came to the decision to change my network just to avoid this. Still getting almost identical deal via same website, just a different network. Surely it would be preferable to keep your customers on your network-even if it is through a third party-rather than force them to leave altogether? any opinions?