BE landline ceases before PlusNet starts, will I lose my number?
Hi chaps, activated my FTTC broadband today and it's blisteringly fast 
However, I have a SMS from BE saying "Your BE Landline service ends on 19/07/2013."
I now have one from PlusNet saying "The transfer of your phone service for (my number here) should happen on 22/7/2013."
I've heard horror stories of people losing their phone number to "the pool" between disconnection from BE and reconnection by Plusnet.
Is this going to happen to me since it appears I have a three day gap?
However, I have a SMS from BE saying "Your BE Landline service ends on 19/07/2013."
I now have one from PlusNet saying "The transfer of your phone service for (my number here) should happen on 22/7/2013."
I've heard horror stories of people losing their phone number to "the pool" between disconnection from BE and reconnection by Plusnet.
Is this going to happen to me since it appears I have a three day gap?
I guess you missed the many posts in the Be forums suggesting that those with Be landline moving to FTTC to try and move the landline first if continuity was essential. 
Try contacting Be via a ticket there, if you can, to extend the phone service. That may be out of their hands though.
Try contacting Be via a ticket there, if you can, to extend the phone service. That may be out of their hands though.
Quote from: _Adam_Walker_ it's a shame that prevented you from carrying the number over.
Did the OP actually say that?
I read it that he was looking for hope, or better help (from e.g. his new phone provider, namely PlusNet?)
Isn't it worse than that though!. If BE cease the line then not only will PN have to restart the line but the FTTC broadband will cease as well.
Quote I've heard horror stories of people losing their phone number to "the pool" between disconnection from BE and reconnection by Plusnet.
I think MisterW is probably right. A minefield of horrors potentially awaits! 
Quote from: HPsauce I guess you missed the many posts in the Be forums suggesting that those with Be landline moving to FTTC to try and move the landline first if continuity was essential.
Try contacting Be via a ticket there, if you can, to extend the phone service. That may be out of their hands though.
I did see those and contacted Be directly for advice - which was to not cancel the landline and leave it in place, transfer the broadband and then transfer the landline. I guess part of the broadband transfer has triggered the landline cancel, as I didn't request this.
I got this reply from PlusNet on the subject:
Quote Thank you for getting in touch.
It appears that your services are in the process of being ceased/cancelled with your current provider, as opposed to letting ourselves simply take over the line.
I would recommend speaking with your current provider and letting them know that you do not want the line to be ceased as it is being taken over by ourselves. This is not something we can do on your behalf and I therefore recommend contacting them as soon as possible.
I must point out that we cannot 100% guarantee the transfer of any telephone number, however we are more likely to retain a number if the line is not ceased prior to our take over.
I have since received an automated text from BE to say "We just heard you're leaving BE Landline for another company. Say it ain't so! If it isn't please call xxxx" etc which suggests they may still be able to do something about extending it a little.
Quote from: tttonyyy I guess part of the broadband transfer has triggered the landline cancel, as I didn't request this.
Well, as you know Be only supply landline with broadband, so yes that will have been the trigger.
AFAIK there is a "grace" period where Be allow you to run the landline on, on request, I think up to 30 days.
Not knowing the timing of everything I can't tell if that is the case, but hopefully they will extend that on request.
The reason for the suggestion of doing it around the other way is that there have been a number of notable FTTC "fails" for various reasons (usually blamed on BTOR) which cause problems such as yours might become.
Well, I'll keep my twisted pairs crossed that that doesn't happen.
Had a live chat with Be customer service, who say they should be able to extend the landline, but I'll need to call the cancellation department tomorrow morning to action this, if possible. So, we'll see - hopefully I've not left it too late.
Very odd system, you'd think BT would have something in place to stop customers falling down these cracks. First world problems eh?
Had a live chat with Be customer service, who say they should be able to extend the landline, but I'll need to call the cancellation department tomorrow morning to action this, if possible. So, we'll see - hopefully I've not left it too late.
Very odd system, you'd think BT would have something in place to stop customers falling down these cracks. First world problems eh?
Quote Did the OP actually say that?
My bad, that wasn't said!
I hope everything does work out with Be and the transfer of your service. As you'll guess Be ceasing the service isn't something we have control over.
From what I can see though the number is transferring over on the 22nd.
Adam
Quote from: tttonyyy I have since received an automated text from BE to say "We just heard you're leaving BE Landline for another company. Say it ain't so! If it isn't please call xxxx" etc which suggests they may still be able to do something about extending it a little.
I spoke to BE this morning, since the line is no longer just being disconnected, but rather transferred over to another company (which must have generated the message above), the line is not being disconnected on the 19th, but taken over on the 22nd. From BE's perspective everything is as it should be and the line and number should transfer normally.
Quote from: _Adam_Walker_ From what I can see though the number is transferring over on the 22nd.
Thanks Adam, as both ends seem to have the same view I'm much more confident that things will go smoothly.
When we transferred the landline into BE I ended up with someone else's line connected to our house, and they had our line, which took some sorting out I can tell you! But that's a whole other story.