How long are virgin media originated phone numbers in quarantine?

If the number was originally a VM number that was at some point in the past, ported to Sky/NowTV, and then you tried to keep the number when migrating from Now TV to the PO and you have ended up with a ‘new’ number from the PO (which is AFAIK just Talk Talk resold by the PO ) then the chances of you getting the original number back are slim to non existent.

When the port wasn’t done correctly by the PO, then the number reverts back to the number range holder, according to you that is VM, if there is a ‘back door’ method of the PO requesting the number to be ported by VM to PO, without any formal ordering process ( porting is normally done in association with the migration order , not done afterwards on a separate request) , then that relies on good will by VM, and frankly why would they bother, you are not a customer of theirs, it’s not like you can threaten to leave them and use someone else, and the PO having the ability or desire to move off script and try something over and above above standard customer service, and TBH, I doubt they would even try, just fall back on the ‘sorry, can’t do anything, check the T&C’s, we don’t guarantee numbers’ script.

Depending on how important the number is to you, basically you have two realistic choices, accept the new number and move on, or cancel PO ( arguing that not porting the number was a key part of using them , and insist they release you penalty free, ) of course they are under no obligation to accept what you want, and then join VM again , and hope that VM can get the original number back, but again they may say they will make best efforts, but stop short of a guarantee that they will restore the number you previously had.

Something not available to you is to just say ‘well I will just go back to how it was with Sky/NowTV, ‘ that ship has sailed, if you went back to them it would also be with a new number

mrochester wrote: »

This information is now conflicting with one person saying the number will be in NowTVs quarantine pool with someone else saying it is in Virgin Media’s pool. Which is it?

At the end of the day it doesn’t actually matter as it’s an issue for Post Office to sort out.

As you say, ultimately it’s for the PO to sort out ( something that shouldn't inspire confidence)...basically ‘landline’ number portability needs the number range holders involvement, in your first port from VM to Sky, when someone called your landline number , the call is first presented to the range holders network (VM) that network determines that they don’t have that individual number anymore, and indicates what network the number is now part of, the call is reset by the originating network and presented again to the gaining providers network and your phone rings , it’s all done in milliseconds.

If you move again and the correct process not followed , when someone calls your number, instead of ( in your case) VM network saying to the originator ‘not my number go to this operator’ , it says it’s my number ( because the port failed , the message VM got was this number is not needed any more, remove port and cease number ) instead of present calls to this new providers network, so the caller gets the appropriate number not in service tone or message from VM.

Trying to sort this out after the event is problematic, and most wouldnt even try to sort it out, and as porting the number is a cost to the number range holder, once the obligation to port is removed ( in this case by PO mistaking saying to VM you didn’t need the number , take it back ) once it is back with VM , they don’t need to help out you or the PO