Business Account to PAYG (ORANGE)

Frag420

HI,

I was on a business account paid for by the company I worked for. I finished with them last week as they have decided to relocate the role to North America. It was only 5 months into a 24 month contract on the company account. I was not aware of the contract length or any details other than I was on the company business account.

I called Orange to find out my options and have been told that I cannot have my personal number back unless the company pay the remainder of the contract or if I set up my own account and take over the contract. However as I am only living in the UK a little over a year I do not have a sufficient credit history and this would involve paying a substantial deposit to go on contract and due to the industry I work in any job I get in the near future would provide a business phone so I would have no need to stay on contract. I do however want my number back.

So can this not be paid while still allowing me to keep my own number as nobody will be using the account? Is the number not mine legally and thus I can keep it and use it on whichever network I see fit?

As I am currently applying and interviewing for other roles it is essential that I keep my number.

Any suggestions welcome!!

frAg

redux

I think you need to negotiate this with the employer not the mobile company.

The employer may agree to the transfer as part of your redundancy arrangement, or they may insist on keeping it for another employee.

They could probably get the number changed in the latter case, but even then transferring out your number may be unlikely.

Meanwhile I'd say get a cheap payg phone and SIM and give this new number on application forms

Frag420

Thanks for your prompt reply. Out of curiosity is there anything to stop me going into say a Three shop, buying a sim card and having my number transferred to the new sim?

When I worked for a company back in Dublin a few yrs back I was able to do this as I was just taken of the business account. Surely with business accounts people come and go all the time?

Also my applications have already gone out so its imperative I keep this number.

frAg

redux

Frag420 wrote: »

... is there anything to stop me going into say a Three shop, buying a sim card and having my number transferred to the new sim?

You might be able to get the number out like that, but surely it must be the contract holder to request the PAC and give it to you?

MataNui

The number is not yours. Even if your company pays the balance (which it should do anyway), its a very complex process to change the ownership of the number. I wanted to transfer my number from a business account (my own company) to a new personal account. In the end i gave up. Not everything is as easy as it should be unfortunately.

Frag420

Thanks folks, I appreciate your replies.

Looks like a new number for me....

frAg