Porting number BT Mobile to O2. Is it possible?

guires

Wondered if anyone can confirm/deny the information given to me by a Dial-a-phone rep yesterday when discussing a possible move from a BT Mobile contract (whose 12 months is up shortly) to a new contract on O2.
O2 seem to be offering some canny deals at the moment (just like BT were at this time last year) so it was a general enquiry for one of their 200 Anytime X-network + 50 texts tariffs which work out at around £150 for 12 months.

The guy at Dial-a-phone reckoned that I would be unable to port my number from BT to O2 (and also said the same would be true if I wanted to crossover to Vodafone). Anyone know if this is the case?
I did press him on whether he meant DAP wouldn't be able to organise the porting for me as opposed to it being some sort of dispute between the telecom firms themselves which would prevent me crossing networks and retaining my number. He insisted that I would not be able to port my BT number to O2 or Vodafone and would therefore be restricted to choosing a new tariff at either T-Mobile, Orange or 3.

I didn't have a number to contact O2 to check out what I'd been told but did check with Vodafone sales who denied that there would be a problem porting a number form BT but of course they do not offer the same deals as DAP so now I'm wondering whether the DAP deal is so appealing cos it only really appeals to users who aren't so bothered about having to change numbers.

Could it be that these deals offered by DAP are offered with a proviso that they have to be taken out as a new number? I couldn't find anything on the DAP website offer page which confirmed this.

bbb_uk

OfCOM rules state that providing you are outside any contractual agreement (the minimum term) then you can port your number if you wish. If you are still within your minimum term then the network at its sole discretion may agree to the transfer but will charge you line rental until the end of the minimum term. OfCOM say they are allowed to charge an admin fee for number porting. Voda, o2, Orange & T-Mobile don't charge an admin fee but other 3rd parties like DialAPhone, etc may.

Suggest you ring back and mention you have been in touch with OfCOM and they said you could transfer your number over and ask them about the deal again and see what they say.

UPDATE: I've just found this and this on OfCOM's website about number portability.

payless

I used e2save to port from orange to 02 , no problems - but what was strange ( compared with my previous porting experience) was they did not give me a temp number to use, so had to wait 7 days before new sim card worked

Whilst my tariff is branded 02 - noticed they use CPW as a service provider for c/s and billing

Actually noticed the phone / deal I wanted would have worked out cheaper via dialaphone, but from my previous experiences with them I decided to give them a wide berth myself ( although I am aware others have been happy)

shykins

i ported my number from BT to O2 ..a dmittedly it took a week.. i just rang BT and asked for my PAC code and gave it to the man in the link and voila.. same number

John_M_Business

BT and O2 are not the same business any longer (which is why BT launched a new mobile arm) therefore this is as different as porting from BT to Vodafone or similar.

guires

When did you do this and which type of O2 deal did you go for (if you don't mind me asking)? Was it similar to the ones around at the minute that I've been looking at (200 Anytime X-network+50 texts permonth)?

I ask because I'm wondering whether DAP's line about not being able to port numbers from BT to O2 is somehow resrrticted to this particular type of deal.

I appreciate that I'll only get the full story once I've spoken to O2 directly which I intend to do when I get the chance (i.e. once I've finished reading this forum!!)

FF99

guires wrote:

When did you do this and which type of O2 deal did you go for (if you don't mind me asking)? Was it similar to the ones around at the minute that I've been looking at (200 Anytime X-network+50 texts permonth)?

I ask because I'm wondering whether DAP's line about not being able to port numbers from BT to O2 is somehow resrrticted to this particular type of deal.

I appreciate that I'll only get the full story once I've spoken to O2 directly which I intend to do when I get the chance (i.e. once I've finished reading this forum!!)

Please let us know as I am contemplating the same switch !

pin

BT Mobile are an MVNO, ie they don't own their own network. However I thought BT Mobile were piggybacking T-Mobile (but moving over to Vodafone). However have just read BT Mobile also piggybacks o2 for some of its customers. That is why you may not be able to port, because you are already on the o2 network (albeit via BT Mobile). However you should be able to "migrate".

FF99

Mobileshop.com said it is not possible. O2 tell me that there is no problem. I can't see any point asking BT as they have no interest in being helpful.

mrwibble

FF99 - BT will answer your questions - they are not some dodgy market trader looking to avoid a return.

They will try to save you as a customer but no operator is going to put roadblocks in your path - they all want to offer good customer service which means answering questions / smiling regardless.

tigs78

I was having a similar problem trying to take my number from O2 Carphonewarehouse to O2 e2save.

My solution was to buy a t-mobile PAYG sim card from e-bay (£3 inc p&p), I ported my number to t-mobile and as soon as the number goes live on the t-mobile sim I will be approaching e2save as a t-mobile customer wishing to port onto O2. I get my swanky new phone, a good deal on the tariff AND i get to keep my number!!