topic Has my phone number been recycled too quickly? in Home Phone

Has my phone number been recycled too quickly?

Chrisbrown2106 — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 10:55:31 GMT

Hi I have recently returned to Plusnet and on return I have been given a new home phone number. Unfortunately this phone number seems to have belong to a business and I am receiving a number of calls (roughly one a day) of people looking for this business. I have googled my home phone number and it shows up as belonging to an auto electrics firm. Has my number been recycled too quickly and is there anything I can do about it?

Re: Has my phone number been recycled too quickly?

jab1 — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 11:19:23 GMT

@Chrisbrown2106 When did you 'lose' your old number?

Re: Has my phone number been recycled too quickly?

Chrisbrown2106 — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 11:36:45 GMT

Hi @jab1 my old number was ported away from Plusnet when I left in March. It caused a problem trying to port it back to Plusnet. As there are only 3 people who still call on my landline I asked them to simply issue me with a "new" number when I came back. My old nunber is still with my other suppliers (they switch off on 20 August) but I don't want to try and port my "old" number as it caused problems the last time Plusnet tried. I'm concerned that somehow the business has lost their phone number!

Re: Has my phone number been recycled too quickly?

jab1 — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 12:24:38 GMT

OK Chris - understand. I doubt the business has 'lost' the number otherwise i suspect you would be getting quite a few more calls. If you find out who the previous holders were, maybe you could see if they have an online presence, and check the number displayed there?

Re: Has my phone number been recycled too quickly?

Baldrick1 — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 12:54:09 GMT

I would not be surprised if the previous user of the number had gone out of business. I understand that numbers only sit in a pool for a couple of weeks after which they are released for re-use.

If no Plusnet staffer comes along I would contact them, explain the problem and ask whether you can be allocated adifferent one free of charge.

You don't get if you don't ask.

Re: Has my phone number been recycled too quickly?

Chrisbrown2106 — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 13:44:45 GMT

Thanks @jab1 and @Baldrick1 I think it is likely that the firm has gone out of business. I can't find a website for the company but they do still appear if you do a search for the type of business and the name of the town. They also still have a presence on a number of business listing websites and yell. I will try and get in touch with Plusnet on Monday if no staffer comes along sooner. Thanks for your time.