Porting landline number without losing broadband?

[#1]

Out of contract, was thinking to migrate over to broadband only but want to keep all my legacy account features/email... so confusing what the correct way to go about things is, since apparently a number port cancels everything?

Will likely be Vonage for home for phone, Plusnet for FTTP/C - Vonage website says the service needs to be active to port successfully, I thought there was a 30 day grace period to keep your number, so my plan was to do the Plusnet recontract first for broadband only and then do the porting signup with Vonage once the phone line goes dark.

[#2 · Accepted solution]

so my plan was to do the Plusnet recontract first for broadband only and then do the porting signup with Vonage once the phone line goes dark.

thats the correct way.

The Vonage website is possibly out of date, it should be possible to port a ceased number for up to 30 days. I'd be tempted to call them to check though...

[#3]

@Phantom 

You re-contract with PN on what's known as a SOGEA line - this is internet only with no phone capability.

When you get confirmation your phone service has ceased then you look to port the number.

If Vonage can only port an active number then you have a problem. To keep your PN account active you must cease the phone service first. I would call Vonage and ask if they can now port "ceased" numbers.

If not, you'll need to find a new VOIP supplier.

Lastly, if you're out of contract with PN you'll currently be paying out of contract prices. Be prepared for a shock on your next bill.

Brian

[#4]

Just waiting for clarification from Vonage if they can port a recently ceased number, in the meantime I presume Plusnet handling the migration from legacy to SOGEA should not effect components on the PN account?

[#5]

@Phantom 

What do you mean by ‘components’? You will lose your phone service, everything else will stay.

[#6]

A migration from FTTC + PTSN to SoGEA is virtually transparent, aside from the telephone stops working.

You could renew as is by calling COTS and then do the move to VoIP in a slightly more relaxed time frame.  It will though need to be done at sometime.  Seems to me that leaving such until the end of a current contract adds unhelpful time pressures.

[#7]

@Phantom,

When our fibre line was installed in January, I decided in advance to move our landline number to Andrews and Arnold. I called them and they said that if I gave them a week's notice of the date, they should be able to activate our VoIP service on the same day as the installation.

I started the number porting process (£15 with A&A), eight days before the FTTP installation day. The day before the installation our telephone line line went dead, but the broadband carried on working. The fibre line was installed the following morning and by lunchtime our VoIP number was active.

[#8]

@Jones 

It may have worked for you but I would not recommend cutting it that close.

If the cease on your phone line had closed your PN account then the FTTP install would have been cancelled.

Brian

[#9]

@bmc 

Very wise counsel!

[#10]

@Townman 

I should have added that if the FTTP install had not gone ahead for any reason then the PN systems would have caught up with the line cease and closed the account.

For anyone waiting for an FTTP install do not count your chickens until such time as FTTP is up and running at your property. Anything can, and probably has, go wrong with an install - assuming the engineer makes it to the property on the agreed date in the first place.

Brian

Edit : The same applies to a transfer to a SOGEA line though that's less likely to go wrong.

[#11]

Marking this as fixed/resolved but for clarity, components is what the Plusnet backend calls various legacy features & account settings. You used to be able to see it in Tickets whenever account changes were made and automatic tickets showed up such as 'added component', 'destroyed component', etc... features such as domains, email, static ip block, webhosting, broadband package and so on.

Thanks everyone for the reponses, and consensus seems to be switch to SOGEA first then port so I'll do that. Tbh the account is more important than the phone line/number

[#12]

@bmc ,

I live and learn.

My first call was to Plusnet customer services. I asked for advice on the best way to time the transfer of my landline number to A&A when my fibre installation date was confirmed. The advice given was to ask A&A. I called them and they said that if I gave them a week's notice, they could do it on the day. The day after the call I received a call from Plusnet CS asking me what advice I had been given. I told them, and they said that it would probably be better to give A&A ten days notice to give them time to organise the number porting. They said that there might be a delay if there was a hitch with the fibre installation, but the fact that the account would be cancelled was not mentioned. I doubt that they knew.

I decided to give A&A eight days notice and everything went smoothly. I was lucky.

[#13]

So, after a little awkward phone call, I think I'm set to move from FTTC + PSTN to SOGEA broadband only part fibre (still no FTTP from Openreach yet :/), without losing legacy features such as domains and email

I guess the time to start a number port would be on or the day after the date given for the changeover?

[#14]

Usually wait for a day or two until your transfer to SOGEA is confirmed.
Also ensure that the company your are porting to know that it is a ceased number.

[#15]

NO!!

Do not seek to migrate telephone number until you receive written confirmation that the broadband service change is complete.  We have seen several cases were a user has perceived the change to SoGEA as being active and the move the number very promptly.  That has resulted in the whole service being terminated ... impacting both broadband and email provision.