unable to transfer existing landline number

GDAS

been with EE for a few years basic BB & line rental, decided I need to upgrade to fibre, EE wouldn't match Vodafone deal so applied online for an 18 month contract with Vodafone.

Letter arrives from Vodafone telling me what's happening next, and I realise the phone number they mention isn't my existing phone number.

Ring them up, they say 'oh well our T & Cs do say that we can't guarantee you keep the same number, if you want to keep it you'll have to contact EE, get them to deactivate the line and release it'.

This sets alarm bells ringing in my mind - is there going to be a period where I don't have access? So I tell them to cancel the order. Which they do, without argument.

So I've since had a look at the info provided by Moneysavingexpert as part of the BB switching tool. Under FAQs, in answer to the question 'will I have to change my number if I switch providers?' it says:

No, you should almost always be able to keep your number. The previous provider will send a request to the new provider stating you want to keep your number. However the new provider is under no obligation to accept the request though most will.

I'm pretty sure there is a mistake in this text - presumably it should say that the NEW provider will send a request to the PREVIOUS provider.

So, I'm assuming that in this case, my existing provider EE refused to release the number to Vodafone (they'd already sent me a letter informing me that Vodafone had applied to take over the BB supply)

So now I'm thinking, if I try again to switch to a different provider (which is still one within the Openreach network), are they going to get the same problem with EE?

I've done lots of searching and this issue of not being able to retain same number doesn't seem widespread so I'm wondering if I've done something wrong, e.g. ticked the wrong box on the application or something?

Any guidance will be gratefully received!

AndyPK

Certain providers won't bother to transfer the number.
Vodafone are particularly bad.
Others will. Try plusnet.

Or are you sure you need fibre ?!!

Wait a while still and good provider launches an offer

[Deleted User]

I've just organised a home move with Sky and have to take a new number. And that's without changing provider, although that will probably change once we're settled and see what the ADSL is like.

GDAS

AndyPK wrote: »

Or are you sure you need fibre ?!!

been OK on basic BB for a few years but now tend to be streaming Youtube quite a bit, and ocassionally get buffering so I though I'd give fibre a try

iniltous

GDAS wrote: »

been with EE for a few years basic BB & line rental, decided I need to upgrade to fibre, EE wouldn't match Vodafone deal so applied online for an 18 month contract with Vodafone.

Letter arrives from Vodafone telling me what's happening next, and I realise the phone number they mention isn't my existing phone number.

Ring them up, they say 'oh well our T & Cs do say that we can't guarantee you keep the same number, if you want to keep it you'll have to contact EE, get them to deactivate the line and release it'.

This sets alarm bells ringing in my mind - is there going to be a period where I don't have access? So I tell them to cancel the order. Which they do, without argument.

So I've since had a look at the info provided by Moneysavingexpert as part of the BB switching tool. Under FAQs, in answer to the question 'will I have to change my number if I switch providers?' it says:

No, you should almost always be able to keep your number. The previous provider will send a request to the new provider stating you want to keep your number. However the new provider is under no obligation to accept the request though most will.

I'm pretty sure there is a mistake in this text - presumably it should say that the NEW provider will send a request to the PREVIOUS provider.

So, I'm assuming that in this case, my existing provider EE refused to release the number to Vodafone (they'd already sent me a letter informing me that Vodafone had applied to take over the BB supply)

So now I'm thinking, if I try again to switch to a different provider (which is still one within the Openreach network), are they going to get the same problem with EE?

I've done lots of searching and this issue of not being able to retain same number doesn't seem widespread so I'm wondering if I've done something wrong, e.g. ticked the wrong box on the application or something?

Any guidance will be gratefully received!

Was the number your currently have with 'EE' imported from another provider previously ?, the number in question will be part of a number range that was allocated to a range holder (EE, BT, Virgin, TT , Sky etc, etc)
Number port is a reciprocal arrangement , if a CP wants to be able to import numbers from another providers number range, they have to be able to export their own numbers on request , the lack of number port was once considered a big barrier to switching phone providers, most Communication Providers offered number port as they potentially would lose customers that would have consider switching only if they could keep their existing phone number

I would have thought that Vodaphone as a large CP, should offer number portability.

At on line order entry , there should have the option of importing your existing number, if there isn't an option , try ordering by calling them.
Many CP's say the number isn't guaranteed , but they should be able to arrange it, but it's easier for then to imply that you have to accept a new number, if they won't accept that keeping the number is important find a CP that will import the number.

A CP cannot just refuse to export a number, but the gaining CP has to follow the correct process/procedure and that seems to be a problem for some CP's
In your case , EE are blameless, it's upto Vodafone to arrange what you want, and the advice they gave, about you contacting EE to 'deactivate and release' is the worst thing you could do as far as keeping the number .

GDAS

iniltous wrote: »

Was the number your currently have with 'EE' imported from another provider previously ?

It was originally a BT number, dating back to pre-broadband. When BB first became available, I took it with BT, and over the years I've probably had a couple of different providers, always with the same original landline number

TheDink

I am having the same issue - switched phone & broadband from BT to Sky last year (so originally a BT number). Now looking to get a better deal than Sky are offering, but PlusNet and EE have both stated online that switching to them will involve having a new number. This is for standard phone and broadband (not fibre).

Has anyone had any luck in keeping a number with a new provider once that provider has stated that they will not transfer it?

nickcc

When I Switched from Sky to EE last year EE told me that I couldn't retain my number which had been with BT before Sky. Turned out that this was incorrect and I was able to keep my original number. Sometimes wish I hadn't as I would have been able to get rid of all the nuisance calls I get daily.

Sand_castle

I'm currently having the same issue with Now TV switching from Plusnet, Now TV have stated I cannot keep my number despite it saying in their website that I can

[Deleted User]

Sand_castle wrote: »

I'm currently having the same issue with Now TV switching from Plusnet, Now TV have stated I cannot keep my number despite it saying in their website that I can

Sky have told me that I can't keep it despite the fact that I'm not switching suppliers but just moving address. It's even using the same exchange. Now TV of course are owned by Sky so I'm not surprised.