Porting my domestic landline number to a virtual landline

[SueCann]

Please can anyone advise who/what number/which department, etc,  I should contact to arrange to keep my domestic landline number when transferring/porting to a virtual landline.

I am paying at least £30 each month for a landline mainly for my elderly dad to call me which I can drastically reduce by transferring to a virtual landline service. However there are also friends and relatives I have lost touch with that don't know my mobile number so I need to keep my landline number.

The virtual porting companies advise first confirming that BT will transfer my number.  I did try calling but the responders either didn't understand my query or didn't know where to transfer me. 

If possible I would like to put this request in writing (email ideally) in case anything goes wrong afterwards. Thank you.

[imjolly]

if the line is only for calls does your father qualify for BT essential plan

BT Home Essentials: broadband for low-income households (choose.co.uk)

[SueCann]

My landline is only for calls as I have mobile WiFi broadband; this is one of the reasons as well as cost why I would prefer a virtual landline.

In reply to your query, yes my father is on a Home Essentials package, which is very reasonably priced . FYI he has the new digital handsets which I wish we had not ordered as they need a battery backup to work in a power cut, the voicemail cut in far too soon for him to get to the phone and then required a call to BT to disable, and frequently when I call him I get a engaged tone even thoough he is not using the phone.

Thanks for your response.

[iniltous · Accepted solution]

If you want to transfer your phone number to another company, regardless of it being a ‘traditional’ telecommunications company’s or a VoIP provider  ( presumably what you are calling a virtual provider)   , it’s that company ( the gaining provider ) that arranges it, something to have in mind , if the phone number in question ( presumably currently with BT ) has a broadband service associated with it, then the broadband will cease when the phone number is transferred ( ported ) to the new provider .

If you are being told by the new company to confirm BT will port the number , then try another company as this is basic info that they should know ….it’s not upto BT , it’s the instruction from the VoIP provider that starts the process , generally BT , if the correct process is undertaken by the gaining provider , simply port the number when requested to do so.

[SueCann]

Thanks for your response.

I only have my landline with BT and my broadband doesn't use my landline.

Regarding my query, I was just following the advice at https://www.virtuallandline.co.uk/services/porting

"You should contact your existing landline provider before signing up to our service and confirm their terms and conditions on porting."

Since I had seen similar advice when I looked at these virtual services previously - hence the calls to BT as noted above that went unresolved - I hadn't checked any other providers at the time when I raised this query.

However I have just looked at Vonage and they do mention a Letter of Authority they provide and process,  so now I understand what you mean and what to look for.

Thanks again for your advice.