Moving Home - Transfer no. from VM to BT

Anon

We will be moving shortly and as it is not possible to get Virgin Media at the new house we will be moving to BT. A few questions if anyone knows please:

1. The house we are buying currently has BT - can we call BT to get our VM number transferred? If yes, can it be done quite quickly?

2. Assuming that we can, do we have to wait for the number to be transferred before we can get broadband (and Sky)?

3. (should possibly be on the internet board!) do we need to get the MAC from the people we are buying off to get broadband? Could we start the transfer process now with a view to it transferring to us/our new provider on moving day?

We are considering BT landline, Sky TV ( as we cannot get VM - also get £125 from Quidco), Sky Phone (as free) and already have 18185/1899 etc - any other suggestions (I have seen Heinz's approach and will be referring back to that as well.

Oh, and is there cashback available from anywhere for signing up with BT for landline?

Many thanks

Anon

jhp

I can help you on one point.
BT have a dedicated Freephone Number 0808 100 5152 if you want to switch from cable, have your cable account number available.

Drunkstar

1) Yes, 11 working days minimum (subject to engineers availiability).

2) yes you do.

3) You could get it and start the process once the line is up and running in your name, not before.

dave_dph

Drunkstar wrote: »

1) Yes, 11 working days minimum (subject to engineers availiability).:)

I think you will find that this is incorrect. It is only possible to port a number between networks if it is possible for the number to be ported back to the donor network.

As VM is not available at the new house then BT will not be able to port the number across.

Anon

Thank you to all - seems I have yet more work to do investigating this.

Anon

Drunkstar

dave_dph wrote: »

I think you will find that this is incorrect. It is only possible to port a number between networks if it is possible for the number to be ported back to the donor network.

As VM is not available at the new house then BT will not be able to port the number across.

Correct, I missed that there was no VM at the new addy. My mistake 100%.

Anon

Thank you for your comments - I have spoken to a helpful chap at BT - unfortunately we cannot transfer the number but not due to the reason you stated (didn't get that far!) but because although we are moving to another house quite close, it is served by a different exchange. As a result, you cannot transfer the number apparently.

The other thing was, if the current owners stop their account ours can be set up in 2 days (and it apparently doesn't make any difference if we keep their number or get a new one). The key is that the line has to have a stop on the system before a new account can be set up 2 days after this. One interesting thing - BT CS said that if they stop their account and do not block calls, then the phone line will still be live and we could therefore make/receive calls but if we used it, it would appear on their final bill.

Many thanks

Anon

Anon

Thinking out loud, but if they agreed to stop their account 2 days before we moved in, then could they still carry on using their phone (and broadband) for two days and they would still get charged anyway (but this would have the advantage of meaning we do not have days without our own telephone/number - as we want to set up with broadband etc).

Many thanks

Anon

Anon

Anon

All irrelevant now really - we apparently cannot even set up an account until the line is ceased (you would think that as computers are involved, you could get registered and the new account instruction to wait on the system to process once the cease date has arrived) - never mind, nothing is simple - something else to think about on moving day!).

Incidentally, as we will be having a new telephone number at this property and the current occupants have cancelled the BT line and broadband, does the broadband "line" remain with the current provider or is it effectively released the same as the phone line/back with BT and available for any provider (or clarifying what I asked earlier, does the MAC relate to the specific address, ignoring the telephone number on the actual line, and hence I need it to pass on?). I believe that their current provider is Orange and I am looking at either Sky or o2.

Many thanks

Anon