New Sky customer. Problems retaining my old number.

pyrrhus80

I signed up to Sky a week ago and was connected the day before yesterday. Everything went smoothly except that I was assigned a new phone number instead of retaining my old one.

I have switched provider multiple times over the years. I ALWAYS opt to keep my old number and there are ALWAYS problems in doing so. Every time. I think it has something to the number originating with NTL years ago. I had it explained to me once but I've forgotten the details.

Anyway, it's always been a relatively straight forward issue to sort out with other providers but Sky seem to have no inclination to help whatsoever. Their online chat agent simply dismissed me and said that their system reports that I chose to not keep my existing number during the sign up process. This is categorically untrue. They also said that it's now too late to reassign my original number because it has already been "released into the system." I can distinctly remember Vodafone telling me the exact same thing a couple of years ago but they ultimately managed to do it. However, Vodafone's cusomer service agents were considerably more keen to help. With Sky, it already feels like I'm talking to deaf ears. I have no doubt that they'd be able to reassign my number if they were motivated enough to take the trouble to try - the issue is that now I've signed up, they're no longer interested in helping.

Has anyone faced this before? What are my options? I'm still in my "cooling off" period so I can end my contract with Sky without any penalties but I'm worried that may further complicate any chance I have of getting my old number back.

Boohoo

pyrrhus80 said:

I signed up to Sky a week ago and was connected the day before yesterday. Everything went smoothly except that I was assigned a new phone number instead of retaining my old one.

I have switched provider multiple times over the years. I ALWAYS opt to keep my old number and there are ALWAYS problems in doing so. Every time. I think it has something to the number originating with NTL years ago. I had it explained to me once but I've forgotten the details.

Anyway, it's always been a relatively straight forward issue to sort out with other providers but Sky seem to have no inclination to help whatsoever. Their online chat agent simply dismissed me and said that their system reports that I chose to not keep my existing number during the sign up process. This is categorically untrue. They also said that it's now too late to reassign my original number because it has already been "released into the system." I can distinctly remember Vodafone telling me the exact same thing a couple of years ago but they ultimately managed to do it. However, Vodafone's cusomer service agents were considerably more keen to help. With Sky, it already feels like I'm talking to deaf ears. I have no doubt that they'd be able to reassign my number if they were motivated enough to take the trouble to try - the issue is that now I've signed up, they're no longer interested in helping.

Has anyone faced this before? What are my options? I'm still in my "cooling off" period so I can end my contract with Sky without any penalties but I'm worried that may further complicate any chance I have of getting my old number back.

Do you have all the paperwork/contract details to hand as the number transfer option could be there.

Do you also have the details from old telecom provider stating that your number will be switched over.

Another option is to go to a VOIP provider like Vonage one a& a as to have 30 days to port your old number to them as the number should be kept in " quarantine" for 30 days.

littleboo

OFCOM regulations means your number is still available for 30 days after it was released. So if Sky cant/wont recover it, then you still have options. One is to contact A&A and request them to port it in, they are very knowledgeable and I believe the process is slightly different if the number is in the 30 day period, they understand this. That costs £12 to port and would mean you number is now recovered but now with a standalone VOIP telephone service provider, which may or may not be suitable for you.