Can I leave BT for 1 month and then rejoin? + Is there anyway we can keep phone number?

enginestar

Our contract runs out Jan 2021.
Can we leave and then rejoin in 1 months time?
Only reason why I want BT is to have Hotspots.
We lose phone number: not the end of the world... happy to sacrifice.
But... is there anyway we can keep the number? (Without spending money!)
If we lose our phone number, then the guys in India will miss the abuse I give them when they call, so just worried about them. 😥 
They're the only ones who care about us and call us.

JJ_Egan

You need to ask BT can they put you on hold .

Otherwise possible reconnection fee , possible lost connection if cabinet is full .

armadilloF150

You don't need to leave them. Just threaten to leave and they will offer you a new contract to entice you to stay.
Use the new MSE broadband checker tool to find what the best deal is in your area. You can then either:

1. Apply for the cheapest openreach provider (like plusnet) and they will automatically inform BT you are leaving. This will trigger BT to call you and beg you to stay by offering you a new contract, with a compeitive/better deal. Remember, you have 14 days of 'cooling off' to cancel the new provider, with no penalty.
2. Call BT yourself and tell them you're strapped for cash and looking to move, you've seen this great offer from X and if they can't match it, you're going to leave.

Number 1 will give you the greatest leverage, because they know you already have 1 foot out the door and you will have to contact the new provider to tell them you changed your mind (the new provider will probably also try to beat the deal BT are offering you to stay).

For me, off-contract, BT was going to charge £32.99 a month for a fibre line. I initiated a switch to plusnet at £24.99 a month (plus some cashback bringing effective monthly cost down to £23.11) for 18 months. BT called me the next day and offered me to stay where I am (same speed, phone, everything) for £19.99 a month, for 24 months. That's a £312 reduction over the off-contract rate across the 2 years.

JJ_Egan

OP is not asking to leave are they ??

bristolleedsfan

JJ_Egan said:

OP is not asking to leave are they ??

"Can we leave and then rejoin in 1 months time?"

armadilloF150

JJ_Egan said:

OP is not asking to leave are they ??

I assumed the reason they want to 'leave and rejoin' is so they can get a new fixed-term contract with BT - which is going to be much cheaper than allowing BT to automatically put them onto a rolling monthly contract in Jan.

If they do what I did, they keep their number, and get a new contract at the best price.

bristolleedsfan

armadilloF150 said:

JJ_Egan said:

OP is not asking to leave are they ??

If they do what I did, they keep their number, and get a new contract at the best price.

Yes, £23.99 Fibre and phone has been best that has been reported in recent months (including me) when this option was chosen a month before contract was due to finish  "Call BT yourself and tell them you're strapped for cash and looking to move, you've seen this great offer from X and if they can't match it, you're going to leave"

[Deleted User]

armadilloF150 said:

JJ_Egan said:

OP is not asking to leave are they ??

I assumed the reason they want to 'leave and rejoin' is so they can get a new fixed-term contract with BT - which is going to be much cheaper than allowing BT to automatically put them onto a rolling monthly contract in Jan.

If they do what I did, they keep their number, and get a new contract at the best price.

If you just want that, you can just sign into your BT account and take one of upgrade deals there without the run around. 

enginestar

Guys, I was just about to post the same question... when I re-read some of the replies. I think all answers were given... mostly 🙂 
The reason why I want to leave for 1 month and then come back... is because I want to stay with BT.
Rejoining would give me cashback.
Landline - I really just want to let go permanent.
We get 97% spam calls. 1% the school. 1% the doctor. 1% elderly relatives that just don't get the message not to call the landline! School and doctor... we can get numbers changed.
I don't mind trying out Three broadband for 1 month (I have heard Three can be terrible though on mobile connection!)
I think I will try the leave and wait for BT to call and beg.
Aside: I hate this culture we live in. I don't want to play these games. 😕 
But if we must, then we must.

JJ_Egan

<Landline - I really just want to let go permanent.>

Then how are you going to get broadband delivered ??from BT .

iniltous

Generally, if getting towards the end of a minimum term, to get a retentions deal that may be similar to a ‘new customer’ deal, check out the competitions prices, then call and negotiate, stating that much as you would like to remain a BT customer , company X are offering service for ££/month and see what BT offer , it may be tempting enough to stay , if not,  it’s not cost you anything to enquire.
If you want to cease service completely, then rejoin as a new customer after a month, you would need to take into account possible one off fees, and  the possibility that ( for example ) if you have FTTC , that potentially you have to wait for a slot in the cab to become available.
Keeping your number whilst waiting a month before rejoining is do-able but not easy, you would have to port your number to a VOIP provider , ensuring that your current service wasn’t ceased early because of that, then when rejoining, accepting any new number , and accessing the ‘old’ number via broadband or mobile , getting that number moved back onto the landline will be so difficult, you will end up leaving it as a VOIP number , and that may have a monthly cost to factor in.