Why do I have to have a new phone number

23sd3

Currently on Virgin Media, looking to switch to Plus Net but its web site says we will have to have a new phone number. Tried a couple of others and they say the same. Any ideas why? All advice gratefully received!

Quentin

That's how it is when you change from virgins system.

AndyPK

I think Vodafone reckons it can be transferred, but when it comes to it....... I don't know

23sd3

Thanks, but they too said a new number would be needed.

iniltous

23sd3 wrote: »

Currently on Virgin Media, looking to switch to Plus Net but its web site says we will have to have a new phone number. Tried a couple of others and they say the same. Any ideas why? All advice gratefully received!

You should be able to port the number from Virgin to a new provider , providing you are not moving address, just changing provider at your current address....if Plusnet are your provider of choice , and they won't port the number, your choices are to take a new number , or pick a provider that will import the number from VM
TBH , Plusnet should import the number , but you would need to speak to someone within Plusnet who knows what to do to get the number imported.

23sd3

That's very helpful, thank you.

Even though the Plus Net web site reports that we have to have a new phone number, do you think that in reality we can port it (if I can get through to somebody who is sufficiently expert)?

23sd3

Sorry - I wasn't very clear in my reply. We are staying at the same address and I simply want to change bb provider. Of all the sites I tried today - Plus Net, Vodafone etc - all said a new phone number would be required! Which is frustrating.

iniltous

I seem to recall a poster on MSE or a similar site wanted to port a number from someone (possibly VM, but may have been a LLU/MPF provider like Sky or TT) to BT ...they were concerned that arranging the 'migration' on-line seemed to require a new number, but it turned out that the 'port number' option on the website was almost at the end of the process.
TBH rather than ordering on line, it may be better to speak to a customer service rep, then you can confirm it's possible to transfer the number from VM , but it should definitely be do-able.
If the number is important, and Plusnet won't port , not because it's not technically possible but because they don't offer the portability option, other providers will

unforeseen

Maybe porting isn't possible because a physical new line is needed.

Marmaduke123

We could take our landline number to Virgin, but we weren't able to take it with us when we left Virgin for Zen.

The new number is very similar, just a couple of digits different. We assumed it was something to do with capacity at the exchange.

iniltous

unforeseen wrote: »

Maybe porting isn't possible because a physical new line is needed.

Because the OP is leaving VM, then a new physical line wil be required because only VM use VM infrastructure , BT, Sky, Plusnet , etc, etc use Openreach infrastructure to provide the 'line' , some providers use LLU/MPF ,and connect their own LLU equipment to the 'line' others use BT WLR3 , so effectly sell or resell 'BT' dialtone connected to the 'line' under their own brands, but number portability can be done from VM to LLU or WLR, and vice versa, provided the will to do it is there.
Plusnet is a BT Group business and mainly uses WLR3, so importing a number into Plusnet should be no different to porting a number into BT,

Number port is a reciprocal arrangement, if a company wants to be able to import other company's numbers into their network ( good thing to offer to win customers ) you also have to be willing to export your numbers to other providers on request.