Number Porting Questions

[Phil]

Current situation: I have landline and FTTC broadband from Plusnet. I
also have a VOIP service from Voipfone, which I use for all outgoing calls.

I want to upgrade to FTTP, probably from Plusnet. This comes without a
telephony service, but I would like to keep my landline number which
have had for 26 years.

Voipfone will port in the number for free, but they say all services on
that line, including broadband, will cease.

If I upgrade Plusnet first, they will discontinue the landline number,
will I then be able to port it to Voipfone? Or if I port first, will
Plusnet still be able to upgrade a discontinued service?

Is there a "correct" sequence of actions to get the result I want?

[Me]

I read a very similar question recently, and the solution that someone suggested was the following which should be the best way to achieve what you are after:

1) Purchase a NEW FTTP package from Plusnet.

2) Once FTTP is up and running, put in the port request to Voipfone. Once that has gone through the Plusnet FTTC should be automatically cancelled as there is no available phone number for the FTTC service to work with, but in any case,
make sure with Plusnet that the FTTC is cancelled.

There will probably be a few days of you paying for both services until the number is successfully ported.

Hope that helps.

Post by Phil
Current situation: I have landline and FTTC broadband from Plusnet. I
also have a VOIP service from Voipfone, which I use for all outgoing calls.
I want to upgrade to FTTP, probably from Plusnet. This comes without a
telephony service, but I would like to keep my landline number which
have had for 26 years.
Voipfone will port in the number for free, but they say all services on
that line, including broadband, will cease.
If I upgrade Plusnet first, they will discontinue the landline number,
will I then be able to port it to Voipfone? Or if I port first, will
Plusnet still be able to upgrade a discontinued service?
Is there a "correct" sequence of actions to get the result I want?

[David Sankey]

This is what I did. Purchase new FTTP, once happy port request to move
number.

All worked a treat, got the refund on advance payment on old contract a
few weeks later.

D

Post by Me
1) Purchase a NEW FTTP package from Plusnet.
2) Once FTTP is up and running, put in the port request to Voipfone. Once that has gone through the Plusnet FTTC should be automatically cancelled as there is no available phone number for the FTTC service to work with, but in any case,
make sure with Plusnet that the FTTC is cancelled.
There will probably be a few days of you paying for both services until the number is successfully ported.
Hope that helps.

Post by Phil
Current situation: I have landline and FTTC broadband from Plusnet. I
also have a VOIP service from Voipfone, which I use for all outgoing calls.
I want to upgrade to FTTP, probably from Plusnet. This comes without a
telephony service, but I would like to keep my landline number which
have had for 26 years.
Voipfone will port in the number for free, but they say all services on
that line, including broadband, will cease.
If I upgrade Plusnet first, they will discontinue the landline number,
will I then be able to port it to Voipfone? Or if I port first, will
Plusnet still be able to upgrade a discontinued service?
Is there a "correct" sequence of actions to get the result I want?

[Theo]

Post by Me
I read a very similar question recently, and the solution that someone
suggested was the following which should be the best way to achieve what
1) Purchase a NEW FTTP package from Plusnet.
2) Once FTTP is up and running, put in the port request to Voipfone. Once
that has gone through the Plusnet FTTC should be automatically cancelled
as there is no available phone number for the FTTC service to work with,
but in any case, make sure with Plusnet that the FTTC is cancelled.
There will probably be a few days of you paying for both services until
the number is successfully ported.

The other reason for doing this is it gives you some overlap, in case there
are teething or installation issues with the FTTP. Get that all working to
the point you're happy with it, then port out the phone number. The number
port can take as long as it likes because your internet connection no longer
depends on it.

You obviously want to be out of contract on the FTTC, otherwise there may be
termination charges.

Theo

[Andy Burns]

Post by Theo
You obviously want to be out of contract on the FTTC, otherwise there may be
termination charges.

I think there will be a "cease fee" regardless of contract status.

[David Wade]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Theo
You obviously want to be out of contract on the FTTC, otherwise there may be
termination charges.

I think there will be a "cease fee" regardless of contract status.

Once you are out of contract there is no "cease fee".

I have just done a similar change, ordering a new service and when its
working porting the number to voipfone which ceases the old service,
except I have gone with ZEN Broadband and Vopifone as no in-contract
rises and the ZEN supplied router supports VOIP.

The ZEN/Openreach FTTP is up and running.

I have the ZEN router talking to Vopifone and my old Dreytek is talking
to the fibre through that.

I have tested the voipfone and it seems fine with my Panasonic DECT
phone plugged into the analogue phone port.

Just waiting for the final port of the POTS to Voipfone which should
happen Friday, when Plusnet inform me the FTTC broadband will stop
working and my account will be closed.

Lots of mentioning what I will lose from Plusnet, but no mention of
charges.

Dave

[Andy Burns]

Post by David Wade

Post by Andy Burns
I think there will be a "cease fee" regardless of contract status.

Once you are out of contract there is no "cease fee".

You don't go out of contract as such, you just go past your minimum
contract term. There was previously a cease fee, payable if service on
the line wasn't moving to another provider, as would be the case here
cancelling the FTTC, rather than migrating to FTTP.

But reading the Plusnet forum, it seems that such a cease fee no longer
applies.

[Peter Johnson]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Theo
You obviously want to be out of contract on the FTTC, otherwise there may be
termination charges.

I think there will be a "cease fee" regardless of contract status.

When I had Zen FTTP installed last year I ported my number from
Plusnet to Voipfone a few days later, a couple of weeks before my FTTC
contract expired. There were no issues and Plusnet sent me a small
refund.

[Bob Eager]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Theo
You obviously want to be out of contract on the FTTC, otherwise there
may be termination charges.

I think there will be a "cease fee" regardless of contract status.

I never paid one.

[Andy Burns]

Post by Bob Eager

Post by Andy Burns
I think there will be a "cease fee" regardless of contract status.

I never paid one.

I think it's a thing of the past (maybe as long ago as 2018).

[David Sankey]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Theo
You obviously want to be out of contract on the FTTC, otherwise there may be
termination charges.

I think there will be a "cease fee" regardless of contract status.

I did exactly this and there was no cease fee.

Rather a refund of the charges paid in advance.

D

[Andy Burns]

Post by David Sankey

Post by Andy Burns
I think there will be a "cease fee" regardless of contract status.

I did exactly this and there was no cease fee.

How long ago?

[David Sankey]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by David Sankey

Post by Andy Burns
I think there will be a "cease fee" regardless of contract status.

I did exactly this and there was no cease fee.

How long ago?

January this year

[Malcolm Loades]

Post by Theo

Post by Me
I read a very similar question recently, and the solution that someone
suggested was the following which should be the best way to achieve what
1) Purchase a NEW FTTP package from Plusnet.
2) Once FTTP is up and running, put in the port request to Voipfone. Once
that has gone through the Plusnet FTTC should be automatically cancelled
as there is no available phone number for the FTTC service to work with,
but in any case, make sure with Plusnet that the FTTC is cancelled.
There will probably be a few days of you paying for both services until
the number is successfully ported.

The other reason for doing this is it gives you some overlap, in case there
are teething or installation issues with the FTTP. Get that all working to
the point you're happy with it, then port out the phone number. The number
port can take as long as it likes because your internet connection no longer
depends on it.
You obviously want to be out of contract on the FTTC, otherwise there may be
termination charges.

I've not been in the situation where the provider of both FTTC and FTTP
is the same, so forgive me if I'm wrong on this.

What I think I do know for sure is that a number cannot be ported once
the line has ceased.

Is there a risk, however small, that PN could cease the line once
they've provided the FTTP service and before you get a chance to do
anything?

If there's no risk of that then fine but to avoid any chance of losing
my number which had been in continuous use for 66 years I ordered FTTP
from an alternative provider. Then later porting my 'precious' number
and ceasing the line.

Malcolm

[Theo]

Post by Malcolm Loades
I've not been in the situation where the provider of both FTTC and FTTP
is the same, so forgive me if I'm wrong on this.
What I think I do know for sure is that a number cannot be ported once
the line has ceased.

Not any more. There's now a 30 day period after a cease in which the number
may be ported:
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2022/03/who-is-the-first-uk-isp-to-adopt-number-porting-flexibility.html

Post by Malcolm Loades
Is there a risk, however small, that PN could cease the line once
they've provided the FTTP service and before you get a chance to do
anything?

I suppose anything is possible. But the 30 day period is designed to be
there to catch mistakes. I would still take the process recommended here to
be safe though.

Post by Malcolm Loades
If there's no risk of that then fine but to avoid any chance of losing
my number which had been in continuous use for 66 years I ordered FTTP
from an alternative provider. Then later porting my 'precious' number
and ceasing the line.

There's an equivalent risk that the new order comes out as a line takeover
(with FTTP) rather than a second line (old FTTC + new FTTP). I don't know
how Openreach organise this, but maybe such a mistake could happen. Again
that's what the 30 days are for.

Unlikely with an altnet since they know nothing about Openreach connections
or numbers.

Theo

[David Wade]

Post by Theo

Post by Malcolm Loades
I've not been in the situation where the provider of both FTTC and FTTP
is the same, so forgive me if I'm wrong on this.
What I think I do know for sure is that a number cannot be ported once
the line has ceased.

Not any more. There's now a 30 day period after a cease in which the number
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2022/03/who-is-the-first-uk-isp-to-adopt-number-porting-flexibility.html

Post by Malcolm Loades
Is there a risk, however small, that PN could cease the line once
they've provided the FTTP service and before you get a chance to do
anything?

I suppose anything is possible. But the 30 day period is designed to be
there to catch mistakes. I would still take the process recommended here to
be safe though.

Post by Malcolm Loades
If there's no risk of that then fine but to avoid any chance of losing
my number which had been in continuous use for 66 years I ordered FTTP
from an alternative provider. Then later porting my 'precious' number
and ceasing the line.

There's an equivalent risk that the new order comes out as a line takeover
(with FTTP) rather than a second line (old FTTC + new FTTP). I don't know
how Openreach organise this, but maybe such a mistake could happen. Again
that's what the 30 days are for.
Unlikely with an altnet since they know nothing about Openreach connections
or numbers.

The Kelly Engineer was keen to remove my copper, until I pointed out I
hadn't ceased that line.

Post by Theo
Theo

Dave

[Malcolm Loades]

Post by Theo

Post by Malcolm Loades
I've not been in the situation where the provider of both FTTC and FTTP
is the same, so forgive me if I'm wrong on this.
What I think I do know for sure is that a number cannot be ported once
the line has ceased.

Not any more. There's now a 30 day period after a cease in which the number
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2022/03/who-is-the-first-uk-isp-to-adopt-number-porting-flexibility.html

Excellent, good news. I'd missed that.

Malcolm

[Graham.]

Excellent, good news. I'd missed that.Malcolm
It doesn't exactly inspire confidence if the ISP concerned won't
speak up.

[Bob Eager]

Post by Theo

Post by Me
1) Purchase a NEW FTTP package from Plusnet.
2) Once FTTP is up and running, put in the port request to Voipfone.
Once that has gone through the Plusnet FTTC should be automatically
cancelled as there is no available phone number for the FTTC service to
work with, but in any case, make sure with Plusnet that the FTTC is
cancelled.
There will probably be a few days of you paying for both services until
the number is successfully ported.

The other reason for doing this is it gives you some overlap, in case
there are teething or installation issues with the FTTP. Get that all
working to the point you're happy with it, then port out the phone
number.
The number port can take as long as it likes because your internet
connection no longer depends on it.

I didn't have a number to port, as I got a block of new, memorable numbers
when I went VoIP years previously.

But I did exactly this. I ordered FTTP separately, and it was installed on
a Wednesday, with a supplied router and single IP address. It worked fine.
I then configured my existing router to work with it (it was a Vigor 2860
with a VDSL port and an ethernet WAN port too). I did that on Thursday.

On Friday I phoned the ISP and they switched my existing accoutn (and IP
block) to the new circuit. Too five minutes.

They charged me for two days of overlap.

[Phil]

Post by Me
1) Purchase a NEW FTTP package from Plusnet.
2) Once FTTP is up and running, put in the port request to Voipfone. Once that has gone through the Plusnet FTTC should be automatically cancelled as there is no available phone number for the FTTC service to work with, but in any case,
make sure with Plusnet that the FTTC is cancelled.
There will probably be a few days of you paying for both services until the number is successfully ported.
Hope that helps.

Thanks for that advice, it seems to be the way to go. Of course, using
this method there's no need to stick with Plusnet - I'll have to check
others' prices. I was hoping to keep my £1.25 a month referral discount
which I've been getting for many years but that will be lost.

It will niggle my OCD to have a redundant wire as well as the new fibre
from the pole. (I wonder if they'll use the same pole as the existing
line, there's one much nearer my house.)