Why do I have to have a new phone number

Mister_G

Under the Ofcom number portability rules, surely there is no reason why the number can not be moved.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for-industry/numbering/number-portability-info

boatman

unforeseen wrote: »

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

I wondered if this is the reason. I have just moved from Virgin to BT and taken my number with me. I already had a BT line in the house, it just needed activating.

teddysmum

boatman wrote: »

I wondered if this is the reason. I have just moved from Virgin to BT and taken my number with me. I already had a BT line in the house, it just needed activating.

My sister recently moved a few hundred metres along her road, staying with Sky, but could not take her BT number which she has had for years and changed to a number of providers, because the man who owned the new house never had a BT line to the premises.


Sky had said that she could keep the number, so they paid the fees for the new line.

iniltous

teddysmum wrote: »

My sister recently moved a few hundred metres along her road, staying with Sky, but could not take her BT number which she has had for years and changed to a number of providers, because the man who owned the new house never had a BT line to the premises.


Sky had said that she could keep the number, so they paid the fees for the new line.

Sky may not offer a 'home mover' keeping the same number when you move even if the old and new address are connected to the same exchange , number portability is when you change provider at your current address, nothing to do with moving house.

If you move home within the same exchange area, some providers (BT for one) can arrange for your number to move to your new address with you...this isn't number portability.

If someone moves home into a property that doesn't already have an Openreach 'line' , then it's arranged that one will be provided for the day you move, and if requested , the number moves with you, ( providing the exchange is the same and the provider offers it )

'home mover' and 'number port' are not the same thing