Sky won't release landline phone number

Hi

This post may be of some help:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3013810

macman wrote: »

Which provider are you attempting to switch to? If you are on Sky LLU, then you will have to go back to BT on a return to donor. It's free, but requring a 12m lne rental contract. You can't switch direct to another LLU service.
You should be able to take your number with you on this basis.

Its a bit of an urban myth that if you are a full LLU/MPF end user and want to move to another provider you have to go back to BT for a minimum term first, lots of Sky customers (MPF) moved directly from TalkTalk MPF, and if Sky can do it so can others, there does seem to be an issue when moving from LLU/MPF though,but its more to do with poor training of the potential gaining providers staff, or more likely, most are only geared up to do an easy migrate from BT, so imply that you have to go back to BT first,
As far as the OP's problem, if the end user has had the same number for many years, it must be an 'exported' BT number on Skys equipment, so it is possible to get the number from Sky and onto another providers network, but unless BT are this provider, and thats unlikely if price is the deciding factor, any other provider may decide its just too much hassle to arrange, having said that, there is only two large MPF providers, (Sky and TT) and the smaller C&W (resold under various brands, but available in a lot fewer locations) so most smaller non MPF providers would be delivering service as a BT Wholesale re-seller, so getting the number back from Sky really shouldnt be a problem at all

I lost my gold number going from virgin to bt

You should always be able to keep your number when moving from Sky to an Openreach WLR3 provider, and if the Sky line is currently live then the process is the same irrespective of whether the CLI was originally a BT or a Sky number.

If the number is owned by Sky (which I doubt given you've had it 26 years) then if you ceased your service with Sky the number would also cease and you couldn't port it out, as you can only port numbers away from a provider if they are associated with a live circuit. You would need to contact your new provider and ask them to port it away from Sky, and Sky should cease your service as part of the porting process.

If the CLI is orignally a BT number, then you have two options: cease your service with Sky and the CLI will return to the original rangeholder (in this case BT), and it will be in Openreach's list of "maturing" numbers. From there you could request this number via any WLR3 provider as part of a new provide (assuming the operator knows how to perform number reservation). Alternatively you could just contact your new provider and ask them to port the CLI, as above, and Sky should cease your line as part of the port.

With regards to LLU -> LLU migrations I know they are possible but as far as I know they are not routinely offered; I don't know whether this is due to lack of operator knowledge or just that the process isn't recognised as being stable enough for the large residential players to offer as part of their BAU services.

Hi duckman9999

We moved from sky to talktalk but when we checked their was only certain suppliers we could go to. I have since found this was due to the varying equipment they all use.

In simple terms, just check your number on the various suppliers websites say:-

Talktalk
Plusnet
Post office
Bt

and they should tell you if they can accommodate you.

Let us know how you go on.