Retrieving a cancelled mobile number

NormaP

Last week my network changed my mobile number by porting a new number onto it in error. They accept it was their error but now say the original number is irretrievable. I have had this number for many years. Is it really 'lost'? Seems amazing that numbers don't go into 'suspense' for a period, just in case of errors like this. Does anyone have any experience of this?

Jon_01

It should have gone into a 'hold' pot for 6 months before becoming available for reissue. The only exception might be if the number had been ported into one network from another. In that case it 'might' have been returned to the network it originated with.

If there was no porting involved then the network support team of your network should be able to get it out of the hold pot. But they are a none customer facing dept. You need to get hold of a team leader or supervisor in CS who knows how to contact them. Depending on which network your with it could be easy or (if your unlucky enough to be with Voda) a none starter...

NormaP

That's a big help Jon - thanks v much.

NormaP

jd87

If you're with Vodafone, the only way to get anything complicated like this sorted is to send an email to the CEO of the company (firstname.surname@v*******e.com), google to find his name. You will then get a phone call from someone in Customer Relations who will get it sorted from you.

Don't bother calling 191. They are useless drones.

NormaP

Thanks JD. Unfortunately it's not Voda - it's a provider networking on "3".
Interesting you say it's complicated. It's not really - I had been pleased with my service over the last few years so decided to transfer a second household account to the same network. I asked for a new account to be set up and provided a PAC no. to apply to the new account. Instead they applied the ported no. to the existing account - not the new one. I still don't actually know if they even set up a new account! A mess maybe but not rocket science surely!