Can I take a phone number for a closed company

[Spapro]

Hi,

I am interested in taking a non-working llandline number for an old company (who are no longer trading).

I am sure someone on here (a gardening services provider from memory) mentioned he used to take numbers of competitors who had gone bust as a way of receiving calls from people who were trying to ring the gone bust competitor. Tried searching but cannot find this previous thread.

So, is there a way I can 'take' this old number to redirect it to me at our landline number.

I have spoken with our landline provider (a BT reseller) who says the number looks like it would be available but we would have to order a landline and request the number and there would be no guarantees we would definately get the number.

There must be a way to get a non-working BT landline number without having to have a landline installed surely ?

 

[StevensOnln1]

If the number belongs to BT, they you would only be able to get through either BT, or a company that resells BT line (there are hundreds that do this). You might have more luck if you go to a smaller independent company, rather than BT or one of the other big guys (TalkTalk etc)

 

[Spapro]

If the number belongs to BT, they you would only be able to get through either BT, or a company that resells BT line (there are hundreds that do this). You might have more luck if you go to a smaller independent company, rather than BT or one of the other big guys (TalkTalk etc)

We are with a reseller currently, is the only way to get the number though to have another line installed ?

 

[StevensOnln1]

I've never tried doing it, so I don't know if there is a way around having an extra line installed or not. If you do have to get an extra line put in, you could always transfer the number to a VoIP provider later on, that would at least cut down ongoing costs for line rental etc. I recommend Voipfone if you end up going down that route.

 

[Spapro]

I've never tried doing it, so I don't know if there is a way around having an extra line installed or not. If you do have to get an extra line put in, you could always transfer the number to a VoIP provider later on, that would at least cut down ongoing costs for line rental etc. I recommend Voipfone if you end up going down that route.

Thanks Steve,

We are with voipfone and they are great but spoken with them and they can only 'port' a number that you own already.

Anyone know if there is a way of getting hold of a defunct/dormant old BT landline number without the expense of getting a new line installed/12 month contract ?

 

[cjd]

Telephone numbers are allocated to telephone companies by Ofcom in groups called number ranges. The numbers can only be allocated from within the ranges that they hold.

So your first task is to find which telco owns the number - it sounds like BT. If it is, the only way to get it is to take a service from them and ask for it.

Once you have the number it can be ported to another provider, but you'll be stuck with the BT contract.

 

[Spapro]

Telephone numbers are allocated to telephone companies by Ofcom in groups called number ranges. The numbers can only be allocated from within the ranges that they hold.

So your first task is to find which telco owns the number - it sounds like BT. If it is, the only way to get it is to take a service from them and ask for it.

Once you have the number it can be ported to another provider, but you'll be stuck with the BT contract.

Thanks for confirming there are no shortcuts

 

[JhonnyMew]

I think there is no problem in that until that company has closed the number as well.

 

[JandJC]

Hi,

I am interested in taking a non-working llandline number for an old company (who are no longer trading).

I am sure someone on here (a gardening services provider from memory) mentioned he used to take numbers of competitors who had gone bust as a way of receiving calls from people who were trying to ring the gone bust competitor. Tried searching but cannot find this previous thread.

So, is there a way I can 'take' this old number to redirect it to me at our landline number.

I have spoken with our landline provider (a BT reseller) who says the number looks like it would be available but we would have to order a landline and request the number and there would be no guarantees we would definately get the number.

There must be a way to get a non-working BT landline number without having to have a landline installed surely ?

I will speak to my business partner who has better knowledge of this type of situ than myself.

I will give you a more definite solution by the end of business on Monday.

I pre-warn you now though, you may have to take a 1 year contract with us, but we do allow a 30 day cooling off period, but we have an established reputation of being 58% more cost effective than BT. So in essence you will be making money.

 

[gibby]

I have in the past obtained a number from BT just by asking for it.

If the firm have newly gone out of business its sometimes left on the premises and can be (but not always) reactivated if you ask.
But also, sometimes they ask for permission from the last owner.
When I did ask they just checked to see if it was available & said OK.

Ive also seen someone go bust, start up again along the road & get the number by asking. So it is possible but there are many factors involved.

G