topic Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number in Home Phone

Request to keep my existing home phone number

Pratensis — Fri, 03 May 2024 04:45:47 GMT

I have just signed up to switch to Plusnet and have received an e mail advising when my Plusnet service will commence and that I will have a new phone number.

I wish to retain my existing home phone number.

How do I make this request?

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

MisterW — Fri, 03 May 2024 06:13:41 GMT

@Pratensis Im surprised you've been offered a phone service at all??.

Openreach have had a 'stop sell' on copper line phone service since September last year and Plusnet are not offering a Digital voice service.

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

Pratensis — Fri, 03 May 2024 07:15:51 GMT

We were with John Lewis and as they were closing down their service we checked for alternative suppliers. You are correct in that new suppliers are not given access, however other than BT, Plusnet is the only provider.

We are in a “dead zone” for the roll out of fibre. There is one fibre provider (therefore will have a monopoly) due to supply but they are still not yet able to provide a service. No idea what the cost will be. People running local businesses have had to go to satellite services but at a cost that is not justifiable for domestic use.

One of the joys of privatisation of an essential service!!

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

MisterW — Fri, 03 May 2024 07:45:59 GMT

We were with John Lewis

Ah! now it makes sense. Since JL was actually provided by Plusnet, as long as you are moving to Plusnet on the same product, then it doesn't invlove a new order to Openreach. Its merely a change of account from JL to Plsunet.

You should be able to keep your phone number though! If fact I'd be surprised if they (Plusnet) were able to allocate a new one due to the 'stop sell' I mentioned above.

I'd give Customer services a call to check what's happening...

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

Pratensis — Fri, 03 May 2024 07:56:23 GMT

Many thanks.

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

Gandalf — Fri, 03 May 2024 12:06:37 GMT

I've flagged this up with our brand migrations team to fix and make sure we're keeping your number.

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

ManicOrganic — Wed, 08 May 2024 10:02:47 GMT

Hi, I have broadband and line rental with plusnet and want to keep the existing land line phone number. What will happen when i come to renew my service with plusnet in a few months?

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

bmc — Wed, 08 May 2024 10:54:26 GMT

@ManicOrganic

At the moment you can still recontract but only if you phone in.

However at some point the phone service will be withdrawn. When this happens you'll need to move to a VOIP provider for phones.

Brian

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

ManicOrganic — Wed, 08 May 2024 12:34:31 GMT

Thanks Brian. To keep the existing landline number, would i have to change broadband provider (away from plusnet) or will i be able to keep plusnet as my broadband provider and move back to BT to keep the landline/phone number? Can't get my head round what is happening here!

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

MisterW — Wed, 08 May 2024 12:48:29 GMT

To keep the existing landline number, would i have to change broadband provider (away from plusnet) or will i be able to keep plusnet as my broadband provider and move back to BT to keep the landline/phone number?

@ManicOrganic

There are two options:

1. You can transfer both broadband and phone to an ISP who provides a VOIP (Digital voice) service. Plusnet will assist with a transfer to BT/EE.

2. Take a broadband only service from Plusnet and either lose the landline phone number or transfer it yourself to a third party VoIP company e.g A & A https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/voip-information/

Note that option 2 may require the you acquire voip hardware.

In terms of move back to BT to keep the landline/phone number? it is not possible to move just the phone service to BT.

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

ManicOrganic — Wed, 08 May 2024 13:54:03 GMT

Again thanks.. 2 years ago i upgraded my plusnet broadband from copper to fibre and at that time was given a new router by plusnet that has a voip socket.. If i did as you suggest and sign up with A & A, could i operate that using my current plusnet router?

Basically, i want to stay with plusnet for broadband and keep current router. Can i do that and still somehow keep our current phone number?

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

MisterW — Wed, 08 May 2024 14:06:16 GMT

could i operate that using my current plusnet router?

@ManicOrganic in a word, No!. The voip port on the Plusnet router is non-functional.

Basically, i want to stay with plusnet for broadband and keep current router. Can i do that and still somehow keep our current phone number?

You can certainly keep the existing router, however you will need either some voip hardware ( to connect to the router ) or use of a Smart phone with a voip app.

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

bmc — Wed, 08 May 2024 15:17:49 GMT

@ManicOrganic

I presume you're on FTTC as PN don't do phones with full fibre.

You don't "port" your number until after PN transfer you to a SOGEA line. Then you have 30 days to transfer the number to a provider of your choice. Note you'll probably have some down time.

If it's A&A you go with then you can set up the account in advance with a temporary number to check your phones work.

Note that VOIP doesn't work during power cuts. You need to have back up power for the router and any DECT phones (plus the ONT if or when you Full Fibre). This works for so long as the Cabinet has power (it probably has battery back up).

Brian

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

Townman — Wed, 08 May 2024 18:23:56 GMT

As mentioned on post #8 you can recontract your exact same contract. A test suggests that you can do this on line.

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

ManicOrganic — Thu, 09 May 2024 17:40:10 GMT

Hi, Still looking into this.. When you say Voip hardware do you mean a new home phone that will plug into my plusnet router?

Also, we wouldn't want a radio phone in the house preferring everything hard wired.. Would this be possible with an A & A account like you suggest?

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

pjmarsh — Fri, 10 May 2024 08:01:38 GMT

There are a few options you have with the hardware. The 2 most relevant to you would be:

ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter) - This is a little box that plugs into your hub, which you can then plug any "normal" phone into
VoiP Desk phone - This would be very similar to any other hardwired phone you have, except it plugs into your hub rather than a phone line. I've got one sat right in front of me now!

Less relevant to you, since you say you want it hardwired, but just for completeness:

DECT VoiP Base station - This is similar to "normal" DECT base stations but connects to your hub rather than a phone line. They may or may not come with handsets depending on what is purchased. Other DECT handsets can be registered with them as well.
Non-DECT wireless phones - You used to be able to get (and possibly still can) a base station and handsets that aren't DECT but work in a similar kind of way.

The other option, which isn't technically VoiP hardware, is a Softphone. That's an app that runs on your smartphone/computer that you can use to make calls on.

Depending on the service provider, you may be able to register multiple different devices on the same account at the same time. Some do restrict that though.

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

ManicOrganic — Fri, 10 May 2024 09:10:53 GMT

Hi, Thanks for that. We are semi rural so don't have a phone signal in the house. To use a mobile we have to walk to a corner of a field that sort of thing. Hence why a landline number is so important. To complicate things further we prefer things hard wired so need to stay with plusnet as our plusnet router gives us the option to turn wifi off when not in use. Some routers only hide the signal but the wifi stays on. So, happy with the plusnet broadband service, just can't afford to loose the landline and ideally have zero downtime. we grown and sell veg for a living so having to unpick all this stuff and forced to learn the inner workings of telecom systems is a pain. Forced upgrades like this have hidden dangers for the economy and peoples lives. Some ppl who can't get the relevant help could suffer badly because of this i'm sure. It's only 18 moths since we where made to have a new router that then didn't work as promised and took days of problem solving straight after coming out of hospital. Thankfully, this community came to the rescue then which is another reason we want to stay with PN for broadband.

Thanks all for the help and advice. will study it all now and hopefully find a way thru. Till next time x

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

pjmarsh — Fri, 10 May 2024 09:24:17 GMT

All those options would use the internet, either hard wired or wifi, depending on which one.

The softphone mentioned at the bottom, would also use the internet. That could be wifi or mobile data. I used to have my own business, with me being the only one in the company. For that I had a VoiP account registered on my desk phone and also in an app on my smartphone. If I was at my desk it was usually easier to use the desk phone, with speaker phone and such like. If I was elsewhere in the house (having lunch or suchlike), I could still take a call on my smartphone via wifi. If I was out of the home I could take the call via my mobile data or someone elses wifi (such as Tesco's!).

Re: Request to keep my existing home phone number

G6JPG-0 — Sat, 18 May 2024 10:41:24 GMT

To complicate things further we prefer things hard wired so need to stay with plusnet as our plusnet router gives us the option to turn wifi off when not in use. Some routers only hide the signal but the wifi stays on.

The PlusNet router is certainly not the only one where you can turn wifi off completely. I can't swear that all routers have the ability to turn it off (and yes I know what you mean about "hiding" the signal), though I've never come across a router where you can't turn off the wifi completely. But you certainly aren't stuck with PlusNet. If you were thinking of changing provider, (a) ask the prospective alternative supplier's technical support whether the router they supply can have its wireless turned off [and expect to have to try several times until you get someone who understands the question], (b) if you really establish for sure that they're going to supply a router that can't, you can always buy your own such router - I think they're about £20-£60 new, £15 or less second-hand (though make sure it isn't one "tied" to a particular provider).

Having said that, when the time comes I'll probably be sticking with PN for broadband; it's just a pain that they aren't doing VoIP. For the VoIP, everyone here seems to be suggesting A&A; one person in a newsgroup suggested voipfone. There are others.