Is my old landline phone number irretrievable ?

[neiloneil]

I have made an error whilst changing my landline phone and broadband provider from Talktalk to Sky.

I didnt specificlly ask to retain the phone number when switching. For the first two weeks of the sky contract it seemed to me that we were not recieving incoming calls, but I now realise that the number has been changed. Sky say the problem can not be resolved, and the number has been put back into the system. I could accept this if it were to only affect myself , however, my elderly mother (Julie) has got many freinds who will no longer be able to reach her. She is distressed about the prospect that she will lose contact with so many people. 

Is there anything Sky or Bt can do to get my Mums old number back? 

[gg30340]

You will need to contact the provider that "lost" it. ie Sky. There is nothing BT can do.

[Keith_Beddoe]

Welcome to this user forum. @neiloneil 

Who originally issued you with your landline number, was it BT Retail?

[Keith_Beddoe]

@gg30340  and @neiloneil 

If the number was originally issued by BT Retail, and they are still living at the same address, then its possible to get the number back, if they move to BT Retail.

What often happens is someone moves from BT to TalkTalk, or another provider, then tries to port the number out again to someone else, it will revert to the original owner of the number. ie BT Retail.

[gg30340]

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@Keith_Beddoe wrote:

@gg30340  and @neiloneil 

If the number was originally issued by BT Retail, and they are still living at the same address, then its possible to get the number back, if they move to BT Retail.

What often happens is someone moves from BT to TalkTalk, or another provider, then tries to port the number out again to someone else, it will revert to the original owner of the number. ie BT Retail.

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Thanks for that but given that they are moving to Sky from TalkTalk I take it that will mean there is nothing BT can do to assist.

[Keith_Beddoe]

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@gg30340 wrote:

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@Keith_Beddoe wrote:

@gg30340  and @neiloneil 

If the number was originally issued by BT Retail, and they are still living at the same address, then its possible to get the number back, if they move to BT Retail.

What often happens is someone moves from BT to TalkTalk, or another provider, then tries to port the number out again to someone else, it will revert to the original owner of the number. ie BT Retail.

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Thanks for that but given that they are moving to Sky from TalkTalk I take it that will mean there is nothing BT can do to assist.

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If they originally moved to from BT Retail to TalkTalk, and really must have their number back, then moving back to BT Retail, would do that. If Sky had told them they could keep their number, and it turned out that they could not, then they could take the issue up with Sky.

I am just suggesting a way that BT Retail could possibly help.

As in this thread which is pending https://community.bt.com/t5/Landline/Re-Lost-landline-number-during-broadband-switch-please-help/td-...

This was NowTV, which is part of Sky, and they were helpful.

[imjolly]

As long as they are aware that moving to BT could incur significant cancellation fees from SKY maybe it will be worth it

[Keith_Beddoe]

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@imjolly wrote:
As long as they are aware that moving to BT could incur significant cancellation fees from SKY maybe it will be worth it

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That depends if they are still within their cancellation period, and possibly if they were promised that they could have their number back.

Until @neiloneil  posts back, it will not be possible to offer any more advice.

[pompey1898]

There is an identical post on the Sky forum and the OP has been advised to contact BT

[Keith_Beddoe]

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@pompey1898 wrote:

There is an identical post on the Sky forum and the OP has been advised to contact BT

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If BT Retail originally owned the number, that would make sense.