Asda mobile Termination

ayrforce1

I don`t know if this is common practice but Asda have terminated a number which I ported across to their service.
My wife and I have mobiles with Asda and transfered our numbers across to them. I had a third number and phone , kept for emergencies, which I also transfered. I had not used the third phone for some time and it was out of credit. I was unable to top up the phone so I contacted Asda who informed me that as I had not used it for over 180 days the sim had been terminated.
The sim I could easily replace but the number which I have had for many years was of special significance to me , but thay inform me that it is not retreivable as it has been returned to the system.
They assure me that this is within their terms and conditions ,but although I can find the 180 days regarding use of the service I cannot find anything regarding the retention of my number and the right to remove it .
Asda you now have one very dissatisfied customer, and will shortly have 2 ex-customers.

Annie._2

Terminating a PAYG number for non use is standard practice across the networks.

You need to keep the number active by making a regular chargeable call and top up or you will lose the number.

Jon_01

As Ann says it's standard with all networks. Dormant number can't just be left forever live on the system.

It'll now be held for 6 months and then returned to the network it was issued on to start with.

Buzby

Don't blame the networks for this - it was a ruling by Oftel (remember them?) that the networks could not count users as customers (for connection statistics if they could not prove the number was active) the 180 days scheme was in answer to this.

The downside, is that if you have a special number then you lose it, and if ported, goes back to the originating network. This is not to say you've lost the number forever, as I'm aware of cases whereby if you agree to go back to the home network they may reallocate it to you if you ask nicely - but this can only be done if they are not trying to clear out the range and close it down permanently.

ayrforce1

Fair point . As I have stated I`m upset at losing my number, not the Asda sim which is easily replaced. They are quite happy to send text messages telling you of in- store promotions on flowers and games consoles but not to warn you you are being disconnected. Of course they offered to send me another sim, which would probably mean I would count as a new customer.