Porting telephone number -can my provider refuse?

[robwoollen]

Hi,
I am hoping someone can help me out with some information please.
I currently have a virtual office, including an 0161 telephone number and answering service. The contract is up for renewal at the end of the month, and I have decided that -as they only answered about 10 calls for me last year, I do not want to continue with the phone line.

The difference between having the phone number and not is £400 per year, and I would much rather have the number divert to my mobile and just pay for a registered office address. I asked them, if they were able to offer this service, but they replied that the £400 is for line rental, not answering, and that I would have to pay the full amount, or lose the number.

I then asked about porting the number -as I thought this was a legal right. They told me that I cannot port the number, and my choices are only to pay the full amount, or lose the number. Are they legally allowed to do this? I appreciate that they may be the primary customer for BT, but surely they are brokering the service to me -they have charged me for the number, and it is now mine?

All knowledge gratefully received.

 

[kulture]

What does the contract between you and them say? It is very likely that the contract will give them the legal right to do this, but check it.

 

[cjd]

They are absloutely not allowed to prevent you moving your number, that's General Condition 18 of the Communications Act 2003

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-tel...or-industry/numbering/number-portability-info

You can ask to move your number at anytime but if you do it within a contract you will still be bound by the contract. Moving at the end of a contract is not a breach.

In practice some fly-by-nights haven't put in place the contracts to do it so tell you you can't. Almost always, they don't own their own numbers so you can get your number via the real network owner. If you PM me with the number I can check who owns it and what the situation is regarding switching it.

 

[NuBlue]

Is it your 0161 number or theirs? If they provide it as part of the service then as @kulture says, the answer is in the contract.

Virtual offices I've dealt with usually have a block of numbers and they allocate one to you when you sign up. If that's the case in this instance then it's not yours to port and they'll eventually reallocate it to someone else who signs up.

 

[robwoollen]

Thanks All