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Porting numbers across BT

shudman — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:37:28 GMT

I have two contracts with BT, to provide broadband and home phone

a) One is a residential account, over copper, with line rental and broadband on say 01222 123456.

b) One is a business account, over fibre, with line rental and business broadband on say 01222 987654

BT are "threatening" to move a) to VOIP shortly...frankly, I don't care.

What I really want to do though, is flip/port the phone numbers, so the current 123456 number is on b), and 987654 is on a) [although actually I don't care what number I am then given for that then].

Is this actually possible ? I suspect moreso when a) goes to digital....but there are always challenges when talking between business and residential accounts, as BT seems to make that quite complicated.

So...doable ?

Re: Porting numbers across BT

iniltous — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 19:23:01 GMT

Are both lines at the same address , if not are they at least the same exchange area ? ( both having the same STD code 01222 doesn’t necessarily mean they are ) , if they are the same exchange, then in the past it would be possible but need the correct orders ( 3 off them ) raising and processed in the correct order , you have many obstacles, a mix of business and residential, one ‘PSTN’ number ( the one being considered for migration to DV ) and the other unknown if it’s PSTN or DV , if the fibre you refer to on ‘B’ is FTTP then almost certainly DV, as well as the unknown exchanges areas they are aligned to.

My suggestion would be when the notification of DV for line A comes along , often it comes with an offer to remove telephony and become broadband only , take that option and once that has been done , within 30 days approach a ‘regular’ VoIP provider about porting the number ( from line A ) to them , you then with an ATA or phone with built in VoIP , and using the broadband that’s already on line B , access 01222 123456 from the ATA and keep 01222987654 via whatever method you currently have ( so basically line B has two numbers and line A has no number at all )

The alternative ( assuming the exchange and residential/business issues don’t put the mockers on it ) you get 3 orders raised , basically line A is renumbered to a new ( random number ) call that C , this frees up the number from A , line B is then renumbered to the now ‘free’ number that was on A , this frees up the number that was on B , then finally C is renumbered to the ‘free’ number that was on B , and C is back to being unused , you can see why you may be told ‘sorry it can’t be done’

Re: Porting numbers across BT

shudman — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:42:53 GMT

Yes same address, same exchange.

b) is definitely DV, as I have an (unused), BT provided, Yealink phone

Is this all easier when both are DV ? My concern has always been the residential/business cack....it makes it so much harder. Like I said, I don't care what number b) has.....it is unused.