Another landline porting question

[#1]

Hi everyone

I have FTTC with fixed IP address broadband and landline and 10 months to go on my contract.

I want to port the number to A&A so I can switch to VOIP. I don't mind losing the phone line for a short period during the switchover as it's not a primary service for me but I don't want to lose my broadband in the process. I don't have any other features with plusnet such as emails etc.

I have read this experience which doesn't sound promising 😱.

Is their any guidance from plusnet on this? Do I ask them to migrate me to a SOGEA account? If so do I have to pay to leave my existing contract?

Thanks for any sage advice.

Mike

[#2]

@Racalman 

You cannot port your landline until you are on a SOGEA connection (or Full Fibre if and when it's available).

You ask PN to transfer you to SOGEA - I believe it will require you to start a new contract. Once it is confirmed you have migrated then you can initiate the number port.

Given the low cost you can set up an A&A account with a generic number to ensure your phones work with VOIP is you think that's worthwhile.

You can phone the PlusNet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 to confirm things.

Brian

[#3 · Accepted solution]

@Racalman That 'experience' is from two years ago, before the 'one touch system' and other changes were implemented. I have not seen/heard of any major problems of that type for quite a while, and to be honest, I  doubt you would come up against any.

Yes, if you want to move your voice service to VOIP, while retaining your FTTC  service, then you do need to ask PN to switch you to SoGEA. You have no penalties on you existing contract but AIUI,  you will be placed on another fixed-length contract.

[#4]

Thanks you Brian for your prompt and helpful reply.

Mike

[#5]

Thank you John much appreciated.

Mike

[#6]

@Racalman You need to check/confirm if a fixed/static IP address would be available after a change to SOGEA; I suspect not. Depends how important it is to you of course.

[#7]

Fixed IP addresses 'live' with the account not the service.  Changing service on the same account will retain the fixed IP address.  There have though been some issues where something fails, requiring manual intervention to refresh the broadband component on an account to recover the existing fixed IP address.

Fixed IP addresses are no longer available to those who do not already have one.

[#8]

Also check when the best time is to swap. Don't forget the annual price rise as you may get an unexpected rise a month or two after starting the new contract.

[#9]

Thanks for the tip. I will bear that in mind!

Mike

[#10]

I certainly would leave any renewal until (perhaps) May.

I don't suppose full fibre is available or in the offing at your address.

I did the move to VoIP as part of a full fibre upgrade (with a more critical need for limited downtime on the landline) and it worked fine.

Get the A&A VoIP service going a few weeks before you want the number port so you know it all works and it should be fine.

[#11]

Virgin are the only suppliers of FTTP in my area but I don't want them.

Mike

[#12]

I took Brian's advice and phoned the customer team. They confirmed that the fixed ip address will remain when I move to SOGEA and that my landline number will be quarantined for 30 days during which I can port it.

What could possibly go wrong ...

Mike

[#13]

@Racalman 

Just don't start the number port until you've got confirmation you're on SOGEA - things can go wrong if you jump to early.

Brian

[#14]

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@bmc wrote:

@Racalman 

Just don't start the number port until you've got confirmation you're on SOGEA - things can go wrong if you jump to early.

Brian

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Noted! I'm planning to do the switch by phone so I can get them on the recording if things don't go to plan 😀.
I won't request the port until my line goes dead.

Mike