Transferring Land Line to Vodafone

[sppakkar2010]

I was aware that Vodafone offer no guarantees, which is why I spoke to them three times before the transfer took place and each time I was told my existing number could and would be ported.

According to Ofcom ...

"You can keep your existing landline telephone number when you switch if you want to. This is known as number 'porting'. If you want to keep your number, let the provider you wish to switch to know." ... and ...

"If you want to keep your existing landline number, let the provider you wish to switch to know. However, you may not be able to keep your existing landline number if you are switching landline provider at the same time as moving home."

I have switched from BT to TALKTALK no problem and now TalkTalk contract is finishing i want to transfer to Vodafone but apparently after 3 months today i have been told that my number [Removed] cannot be transfer to Vodafone and if i want vodafone service they will supply me new tel no.  I have spoked to TalkTalk and  they say there is no reason why my old number cannot be ported, but it would appear that Vodafone don't know how to do this.  Any suggestions that I can pass on to Vodafone would be very much appreciated.

[MOD EDIT: This post has been edited to remove personal information please see Community Guidelines]

[Biggles1998]

Hi.. PM responded to, but missed adding my forum name and link to this thread.. all other details added to message

thanks

[Gus13]

Hi

i too am in this same position. I have a new order processing and have a VFC... number as my home phone number. Is it best to start a new topic or continue this one?

thanks

Gus

[Mark]

We can't guarantee you'll be able to keep your number when you join us @Gus13. If you contact us by following the instructions in this private message, we'll be happy to look into this for you.

[Gus13]

@Mark

many thanks for taking the time to reply.

I have now decided to cancel my fibre broadband order due to this challenge that Vodafone cannot overcome. I spoke to Customer Services a number of times about this and was told a different answer every single time; this alone was a major concern. I was not willing to risk loosing my home number, given that it is used in many places. It seems very odd that every other telecoms provider aligns with the Ofgem view that porting is not a challenge; it is a principle/process that has existed for many many years in the UK. I do appreciate there are no guarantees in life however given that Vodafone were also unable to check/decide whether the number porting would be possible ahead of the change, thereby giving me options before it was too late, seemed too great a risk. I see others in this forum who have lost their number after putting trust in Vodafone.

It's worth noting that i am currenly with BT and not virgin etc. and i am not moving house.

Again, thanks for the time to reply and i hope that Vodafone overcome this challange and perhaps i may join as a customer at some point in the future.

Regards,

Gus

[Mark]

I'm disappointed to hear you feel this way @Gus13.

If you change your mind, don't hesitate to get in touch. We'll always be happy to help.

[fabyon]

I would take this opportunity to port your number to a VoIP solution which removes the risk of losing your number when switching providers. I did that last summer and now when I just moved from Plusnet to Vodafone, my existing landline phone number was never an issue as the Vodafone rep I spoke to over the phone asked me if I minded losing my number with plusnet which is always a possiblity, it didn't bother me as my real number is with Vonage now so I can switch as often as I like to find the best deal once my contracts are over and never worry again.

The only inconvenience to port a number to a VoIP solution is that you'll lose your broadband service for a few days (as the line get ceased) until the number is ported (you can use either a mobile hotspot solution or BT-Wifi if you can see BT-fon available in your area until you get a new line). Obviously there's the pain of having to pay for a reactivation of your line which is considered a new install but with all the cashbacks/prepaid card deals out there you can recoup the cost through that or simply ask Vodafone to waive that fee since you've been inconvenienced in having to port your number to VoIP to 'save' it. It's a pain but well worth it once you've done it once and for all.

[Redzed3]

I was assured on numerous occasions by Vodafone that my number could be ported from BT, but I have lost it. At first they said it was because the number had belonged to Virgin. (This was in the 1990s, and Virgin have assured me that they have no interest in the number, and are not standing in the way of porting it). And in any case, why can't numbers be ported from Virgin anyway???? I have escalated the issue to the Chief Execs offices at Vodafone and BT, but they cannot resolve the issue, and I am exhausted trying to get to the bottom of it, so have reluctantly agreed to accept compensation. Do not believe them when they say that porting will be ok. They will give you a new number and then lose interest.

[neilyr]

Has anybody any experience (good or bad) of transferring from Plusnet to Vodafone and trying to keep the landline number ?

The online ordering tool suggests that the number could be transferred, but I note in this forum the comments about the T & C's that point out this isn't guaranteed - not much of an incentive to competition, the "fear" that our number may be lost ! - so curious if anybody else has any experience when shifting from Plusnet -> Vodafone.

Many thanks

[Jayach]

I went from Sky ADSL to Vodafone VDSL with no problems. But that was 2 years ago, and (if the forum posts are to be believed) they seem to have got worse since then.