Keeping your old BT phone number when moving house.

jondoc

I`ve just finished completeing the BT redirection service for moving home.

The order form said we can`t take our existing number with us as we`re moving away from our exchange.

The house we`re moving to, has the same area code as the one we`re moving from.

Does this mean that the 6 digit number after the area code is tied to the exchange we`re at now..


John

jondoc

I`ve contacted BT directly as I`ve had no feedback from the forum.

I`ll let you know how I get on.

John

Torry_Quine

Give people a chance!

To answer the question the area code can cover a much larger area than an exchange and if you move outside the exchange then you can't take your number with you.

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=30848

iniltous

Yes, for example 0199945****, could be a different exchange to 0199946****, so in this example the person with the 45 number couldnt have that number on the 46 exchange , basically the cable that goes from your property goes back to a particular exchange which has a specific number range or ranges, move to a different exchange area , even if this new exchange has the same STD code (01999 in this example) you have to take a number from the new exchanges number range(s)...you can get around this by exporting your number to a VOIP provider then using your broadband at your new address for (VOIP) telephony, but unless you were in a cable area and used them for broadband only, you would have a 'number' from the exchange that was appropriate to your new address as well as your voip imported number from your old exchange area

moonrakerz

Yes and No.
It depends on the size of the main exchange and the number of subscribers it serves.

An example near me:
01225 covers Bath, Melksham, Trowbridge & Bradford on Avon. Each of these places has its own exchange, Bath probably has more than one, in fact. So if you move from Bath to Melksham you won't be able to take your old number with you.

jondoc

OUCH!

Thanks for all your replies.

But no more please!!.

I`ll sort this out myself.

John

macman

Why bother posting if:
a) you're getting impatient because no one has replied after 72 minutes?
b) and then you're complaining because you've had too many (3) replies?

You can't sort it out via BT, the only way is to use the VOIP alternative as suggested.

jondoc

I got a call within 2 hours of emailing , from BT customer services.

"As my number is in use, I cannot take it with me.

Once my services have been disconnected from my old house and connected at my new address. I am to call them and BT will reassign my old number to the new house within 24 hours."

Thank you BT.

iniltous

jondoc wrote: »

I got a call within 2 hours of emailing , from BT customer services.

"As my number is in use, I cannot take it with me.

Once my services have been disconnected from my old house and connected at my new address. I am to call them and BT will reassign my old number to the new house within 24 hours."

Thank you BT.

The person who emailed you is wrong about your number being in use so you cannot take it with you...thats absolute b*ll*cks, if you are moving within the same exchange area then you take your number in a 'reserved' state to your new address and on the required date the service is stopped at the old address and the reserved service made live at your new address...as already said move across the exchange boundary you cannot have your 'old' number, its tied to your old exchange area....you may chose to believe whats on the e mail, but its wrong, unless of course you are moving within the same exchange area..
your location is Durham, not too far away from me... , Im guessing your are a 01207 number, what is the 1st & 2nd numbers of your tele number ?, and do you know the number of the property you are moving to, assuming the new address is currently served by BT, or the number BT have offered you at this new address...

afzaal1988

It might be of no help to op. but i had bt number and than when i moved home (same exchange) i decided to take the number to virgin media. than after few years i moved again but this time in different exchange but same area code. and virgin media had no problem becasue they dont use bt exchange.
but i wonder what would bt say if i want to switch to them now? probably "Computer says NO":p