O2 and keeping your old phone number

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Martin Sewell - 27 Apr 2007 08:42 GMT

Hi

I am with O2 (Pay Monthly) and was well out of contract (it was a couple of
years past the 12 months) so naturally enough decided to upgrade my mobile
phone.

In short, I'm not changing provider (staying with O2), wish to keep the
same type of contract (Pay Monthly) and obviously wish to keep the same
phone number.

O2 wrote:
"We're unable to transfer your old phone number to the your new Nokia N95,
as it's not possible to transfer the phone number from an online Pay
Monthly contract to another online Pay Monthly contract."

WTF? I thought the regulators insisted that you had to be able to keep your
phone number? There is no way I want to change my phone number!

Cheers

Martin

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Matt Wheeler - 27 Apr 2007 09:25 GMT

> Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> keep your
> phone number? There is no way I want to change my phone number!

My understanding is that, if you are staying with the same operator,
you need to upgrade your existing contract to keep the number rather
than just take out a new one and ask them to move the number.

I think what you are referring to about the regulators and retaining
your number is for when you switch networks (ie O2 to T-Mobile or
Orange to 3) not when you stay with the same operator.

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RCC - 27 Apr 2007 10:09 GMT

>> O2 wrote:
>> "We're unable to transfer your old phone number to the your new
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>your number is for when you switch networks (ie O2 to T-Mobile or
>Orange to 3) not when you stay with the same operator.

02 are proudly advertising that they offer the same deals to existing
customers as they do to new ones - "loyalty rewarded" - so perhaps ask
why did you need a new contract to get the deal you wanted? Is it a
done deal or are you still thinking about it?

The only reason I will stay with o2 this time round is to avoid the
hassle of changing number - if I can't keep it I might as well PAC off
to another provider.

Signature

Richard C

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R. Mark Clayton - 27 Apr 2007 13:56 GMT

> Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> as it's not possible to transfer the phone number from an online Pay
> Monthly contract to another online Pay Monthly contract."

Of course it IS possible*, but O2 being O2 their customer service can be
this good.

> WTF? I thought the regulators insisted that you had to be able to keep
> your
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Martin

Even if you had to PAC it out and PAC it back in again - never heard of not
being able to keep a number on an upgrade though - perhaps your O2
teletubbie was more of a numpty even than usual.

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Jon - 27 Apr 2007 22:15 GMT

martin@martinsewell.com declared for all the world to hear...

> Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> WTF? I thought the regulators insisted that you had to be able to keep your
> phone number? There is no way I want to change my phone number!

Then you need to do an upgrade, not start a new contract.

Signature

Regards
Jon

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Spookytooth - 28 Apr 2007 19:27 GMT

> Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Martin

It's a well known issue. If you can, cancel the new contract and start a new
one with Orange or tmobile then port your old number in. If you already have
your O2 PAC then you can probably also port the numbere to a new Voda
contract by quoting the PAC when you sign up. Some vendors won't port
numbers to new Voda contacts at all, though.

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Martin Sewell - 30 Apr 2007 23:00 GMT

Hi

Many thanks for all your replies.

It was my mistake in the sense that I assumed that I was upgrading, but in
fact was not. Their website, system and attitude is not customer-centric,
but task-centric. At least that's my excuse. :-)

How they deal with this remains to be seen...

Cheers

Martin

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