Lose landline Phone Number

50Twuncle

I have had the same home land line number for 15 years and have just been told that if I want to change ISP's (in order to get a cheaper fibre package) - I will have to change my phone number....
Surely - there must be a way to keep my present number ?

kwikbreaks

With number porting it is up to the recipient company whether or not they will take on the number. The "owning" company must release the number.

http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/telephone/switching_provider

If the new provider have said they won't accept the number and you can't get them to change their minds then I suspect the only way you could keep it would be to retain the line it is on and take a new line for the new broadband.

50Twuncle

kwikbreaks wrote: »

With number porting it is up to the recipient company whether or not they will take on the number. The "owning" company must release the number.

http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/telephone/switching_provider

If the new provider have said they won't accept the number and you can't get them to change their minds then I suspect the only way you could keep it would be to retain the line it is on and take a new line for the new broadband.

OK - So it is TT residential who are causing the problem - not TT business
What reason could they possibly have for doing this ?

kwikbreaks

It's possible that they don't have systems in place to accept ported numbers. Most non business customers would just put up with what is a minor inconvenience.

I've just realised that there is something else you could do. A few years back when I moved to cable I wasn't prepared to pay VM's telephony prices so I subscribed to the Vonage VOIP service and ported my phone number to them. I think you'd have issues if you ported the number on a line you were using for internet access but you could take the new package on a new line then port and cancel the original line after that was live.

http://www.vonage.co.uk/

50Twuncle

Apparently the reason given by TT is that the number started out being a BT number and (after I was SLAMMED by TTB, 5 years ago) - I cannot keep my present number - my Father has moved house and kept his ex-BT number so I fail to see any valid reason ....


"The current line you are using at the moment will be an old BT line which does not let us connect Fibre to it at the exchange- because it’s an old line it will not be compatible with Fibre. From this, TalkTalk to not have the ability to retain numbers from one line to another line unfortunately.

The only other way around this is to switch over to residential without Fibre and once you are live we would check to see if we can add fibre that way, this is something I can’t guarantee but you will keep your number this way."


I don't see any reason why - even if I need a new line - I shouldn't keep my existing number ?

50Twuncle

Why would TTB be able to guarantee that I can keep my phone number - but TTR tell me that my line is not fibre compatible - so BT would have to give me a new line and new number ?

50Twuncle

kwikbreaks wrote: »

It's possible that they don't have systems in place to accept ported numbers. Most non business customers would just put up with what is a minor inconvenience.

I've just realised that there is something else you could do. A few years back when I moved to cable I wasn't prepared to pay VM's telephony prices so I subscribed to the Vonage VOIP service and ported my phone number to them. I think you'd have issues if you ported the number on a line you were using for internet access but you could take the new package on a new line then port and cancel the original line after that was live.

http://www.vonage.co.uk/

I need to explain - it is not the actual cost of the calls (we rarely use any more than £5 per month in call costs) - it is the inconvenience of having to change (and remember) to a new number - with having to inform all our contacts !!
Plus it is the principle that offends me - why should we HAVE to change our number (with, presumably - our number being ported to someone else (eventually?)

Buzby

Take it as a warning - DON'T transfer your business to them. Think of it as 'Divine Providence', or a lucky escape - and find a firm that will.

martinthebandit

Buzby wrote: »

Take it as a warning - DON'T transfer your business to them. Think of it as 'Divine Providence', or a lucky escape - and find a firm that will.

Is the right answer

50Twuncle

Buzby wrote: »

Take it as a warning - DON'T transfer your business to them. Think of it as 'Divine Providence', or a lucky escape - and find a firm that will.

I assume by "them" you mean TTR ?
I am not a business - I am a private residence - who for historic reasons (Nildram - Opal - TTB) have been with TTB for 4 years !

JJ_Egan

Point is you don't own the number .

The <its an old line and will not be compatible with fibr > i find confusing .