Change from Unlimited Fibre Extra -> Full Fibre 900 (Landline switch timing)

[#1]

Per the above I currently have Unlimited Fibre Extra and I also have a landline with this contract. I want to move to Full Fibre 900 which does not have a landline with it. So probably looking to use for the home phone: https://www.voipfone.co.uk/

My question is what is the best order to do things? If I switch my landline to voipfone then it warns that it will cancel my BB contract. If I switch my BB then I will be without my home number. I cannot have either of these things ocurr.

[#2]

@shaggywolfound 

You must get Full Fibre installed (and working) before starting the port of your number.

Porting the number prior to the install can lead to the cancellation or your accoutnt and the FTTP install cancelled.

You'll have a few days downtime on the phone.

Brian

[#3]

@shaggywolfound My question is what is the best order to do things?

If I switch my landline to voipfone then it warns that it will cancel my BB contract.

That is correct.

If I switch my BB then I will be without my home number. I cannot have either of these things ocurr.

Do you have and use a Plusnet email address ? or have any hosted domains or webspace

and are you out of contract or close to it on your existing contract ?

I ask because one option to meet your requirement not to lose the phone number is :-

Order Full fibre creating a new Plusnet account, ensuring that retain any existing services is selected.

This keeps the existing broadband and phone active. Once FF is installed , you then request the phone number to be ported to your selected voip supplier.  The port (when it completes) will cease your old broadband account.

Possible down sides are that

1) you lose any email service, webspace , referrals etc that are associated with you old account.

2) there's a possibility of ETCs applying to the old account if you are still in contract (although if you talk to COTS nicely they MAY agree to waive them )

[#4]

@shaggywolfound 

If you're near the end of your contract and you don't have any PlusNet add ons (like e-mail) you could move ISP to one who does both internet and phone. While not the cheapest Zen Internet have a good reputation and supply a highly regarded router. Moving ISP is the easiest way to move to VOIP. PlusNet would transfer you to EE free of charge. As I understand it there should be little downtime on internet or phone.

If you need a phone but can down without your number for a few days then someone like A&A may be worth a look. You can set up your account with a generic number to keep you up and running (while allowing you to check your phone works with VOIP) and then port your number in once FTTP is installed.

When you number has been sucessfully ported you can cancel the generic number.

Brian

[#5]

@shaggywolfound 

What I did when faced with a similar problem was ordered a migration with Plusnet from Unlimited Fibre Extra -> Full Fibre (VDSL to FTTP).

I had previously got a VoIP service set up and working on a temporary number.

Once I had the Openreach install date I set the landline migration date to the next working day. I left a working phone plugged in and I think I only lost the landline service for a few hours on migration day.

This has a risk if the fibre upgrade fails and it might have been better to have a bigger gap but as long as you have spoken to Voipfone and explained what you are doing I would expect it to work.

I have the same Plusnet account as I had before, I just have the landline from a different supplier.

[#6]

Now that is what I was hoping to hear. Sounds plausible especially since voipfone offer a 30 day free trial that I can then use to port my number to. Thank you.