NTL Business number portage

[Angua]

Many of our tenants home phones are on an NTL Business basis which are paid centrally. Two of our tenants have married and need to be totally responsible for their own phone. Unfortunately it looks like they have to have a new contract with either Virgin or BT and a new telephone number.

Is this information correct or would it be possible for them to keep the phone number which they have had for years?

Advice appreciated.

[Turkey Machine]

Short answer: yes maybe. Long answer: no possibly.

Porting a number requires porting agreements to be in place between the gaining and losing providers / platforms. If the agreement is in place, the port should take no longer than 8 weeks (depending on how long it takes both parties to get their fingers out their backsides), anywhere around 2-3 weeks is common for the paperwork shuffle. If no agreement is in place, expect 3 months or longer plus the porting time.

To give an example, say you're porting the numbers to a VoIP provider who hosts them on BT switches. BT would need to have the porting agreement in place between themselves and Virgin to be able to port the number, as the traffic needs to pass between them.


In an entirely separate but relevant question, have they considered VoIP and IP handsets like the Siemens A580IP? Plugs into an ethernet port on a router or the wall, as well as the physical landline if necessary, they can make calls on the same network for free, and VoIP-to-landline calls are usually very cheap. Those units can failover to landlines in the event the broadband goes down.

The reason I mention is if they're getting rid of a lot of lines we (company I work for) can port most, if not all, numbers to our platform and point them to phones. If they need 2 numbers / 2 phones, all they'd need is broadband and separate accounts and then they could be billed separately for the phone calls they make. Calls to each other would be free.

If that's of interest, PM me and I'll outline how that would work.

[Angua]

These are individual personal lines for our tenants all over the South & Midlands with no central hub only a central payment point (may even have an entry in the directory under the tenants name). They are NTL Business via a BT line or a cable line. We as a company set up a contract to pay NTL Business for the calls/line rental then make a service charge to the tenants or support offices which they may pay weekly, monthly or whatever.

The couple concerned are very low phone users and need a very simple and uncomplicated system so a regular phone line is all they need, no broadband or anything else.

[Turkey Machine]

Originally Posted by Angua

These are individual personal lines for our tenants all over the South & Midlands with no central hub only a central payment point (may even have an entry in the directory under the tenants name). They are NTL Business via a BT line or a cable line. We as a company set up a contract to pay NTL Business for the calls/line rental then make a service charge to the tenants or support offices which they may pay weekly, monthly or whatever.

The couple concerned are very low phone users and need a very simple and uncomplicated system so a regular phone line is all they need, no broadband or anything else.

Ah, I understand. VoIP in that respect would be impractical.

BT may be able to port numbers from Virgin Media / NTL / Telewest. However they won't know whether they can until they try with a number. If they can, lead time is anywhere from 2 - 4 weeks from original porting submittal. If not, lead time would be 3 - 4 months.

If you don't mind me asking, how much are NTL charging for those lines in the first place, and is it ex VAT or inc VAT?

[Angua]

Originally Posted by Turkey Machine

Ah, I understand. VoIP in that respect would be impractical.

BT may be able to port numbers from Virgin Media / NTL / Telewest. However they won't know whether they can until they try with a number. If they can, lead time is anywhere from 2 - 4 weeks from original porting submittal. If not, lead time would be 3 - 4 months.

If you don't mind me asking, how much are NTL charging for those lines in the first place, and is it ex VAT or inc VAT?

I have no idea about cost as this also covers all our business needs. They were gradually transferred over from BT/Telewest to NTL except for payphones which NTL don't do.

When I first contacted NTL over switching this line/number over to the tenants they said the number couldn't be transferred as it is classed as a business line.

[Turkey Machine]

Originally Posted by Angua

When I first contacted NTL over switching this line/number over to the tenants they said the number couldn't be transferred as it is classed as a business line.

That's complete rubbish as the lines are still physically the same regardless of whether they're residential or business. They might have marked the numbers as non-portable, in which case you're quite within your rights to make an industry complaint to Ofcom and Otelo.

[qwedsa]

Hi folks,

I'm a bit of a newbie although have a problem and i was hoping someone could help me .

10 years ago(ish!) my dad took out a business line with cabletel, later ntl blah blah blah now virgin media business. Dad's self employed and never really needed a business line but the number was memorable enough and at the time the prices were more or less the same.

Always wanted to port from business to residential either internally through virgin or going to bt residential. But have always had a monkey with a keyboard on the other end of the phone ie customer services!! they have always said we couldnt (even when i ring bt to offer to join them bt cust. serv. say the same!)

Any advice on what I need to do to switch from a business line to a residential line? - is it even possible? We want to keep our phone number though! - it's not really a line used for business, as 99% of dads calls go direct to his mobile.

Help and advice would be very much appreciated!

[Raistlin]

1.

2. We have a number of those 'Monkeys' that offer their time freely here on Cable Forum to assist our Members, you may find that they're less inclined to assist you if they feel they're all being tarred with the same (rather general, and insulting) brush - just a thought

Anyway, hopefully someone will be able to offer some assistance/advice with this - it certainly seems like a simple enough question

[Kymmy]

I know that when I went from residential to business it would have cost me £20 to keep the same number. As they can go one way the other way should be no worries

[Hugh]

qwedsa, welcome to the forum, and I hope you resolve your issue.

Handy hint, though - a number of CF members work at VM, including in Customer Services; not a good start to asking for help by insulting them.

(oops - beaten to it by Rob).

[qwedsa]

Hi again,

Thank you for welcoming introduction.

Apologies for any offence caused in my first post, It wasn't my aim to insult any fellow members indiscriminately.

Having re-read my post, I appreciate it doesn't come across well. Although it was never my attention to to purposely offend others, I was describing specific CSR's who I dealt with and I was a little distracted mid post.

I also have BB with VM and have nothing but praise for CSR's who have helped me with any problems i have had with this. Including a case of vandalism where 3 csr's helped tremendously.

This isn't an attempt to save face, i genuinely want to apologise, I realise it was an (unintentional) mistake on my part and want to say sorry for the cockup

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by qwedsa

Hi again,

Thank you for welcoming introduction.

Apologies for any offence caused in my first post, It wasn't my aim to insult any fellow members indiscriminately.

Having re-read my post, I appreciate it doesn't come across well. Although it was never my attention to to purposely offend others, I was describing specific CSR's who I dealt with and I was a little distracted mid post.

I also have BB with VM and have nothing but praise for CSR's who have helped me with any problems i have had with this. Including a case of vandalism where 3 csr's helped tremendously.

This isn't an attempt to save face, i genuinely want to apologise, I realise it was an (unintentional) mistake on my part and want to say sorry for the cockup

I would ring up as soon after 0800 in the morning and you may get someone who can help you.

Residential is available on 150 from a Virginmedia phone line or 0845 454 1111 from any other line which may include your business line.

You may have to call the Business side so here is their number below

Get in touch with Virgin Media Business



For all phone enquiries call
0800 953 0180
Monday to Friday
9am to 5pm

By the way I am a verified Virginmedia staff member.