Taking Landline Number when moving from Now to Sky Broadband

[EarlGrey16]

I am about to move from Now Broadband to Sky Broadband.  I have been advised that it is not possible to port my existing landline number.  I haven't been provided with a definitive answer as to why, but it has been suggested (By a Now customer services representative) that it may be a techncial issue, because the providers are both part of the same parent company and their systems are shared.

I have come across a work around by taking out a contract with a VOIP provider and asking them to port the number from Now Broadband before the contract ends.  I am exploring this option, though it does mean I will have a new number, provided by Sky, which I won't use.  I will also need to pay for the VOIP service.

What I was wondering was if I move the number to the VOIP provder can I subsequently ask Sky to port the number over to my account?  We have had this number for 37 years, moving from BT to Sky, back to BT, then to Vodafone and then Now, without any issues with transferring the number.  

You may think it a lot of trouble to keep the number, but with elderly family members, with dementia conditions, who are reliant on using this number to contact us (it's about the only number they can remember!), we really are committed to trying every possible avenue.  If anyone has been successful, we'd love to know, or if there is any other work around that has worked for anybody.  

I did look on the Offcom site and they state

Number portability is a regulated facility which allows customers to keep their numbers when changing provider.  

There should be procedures to allow porting to take place, even between sister companies (I've read that Plusnet and BTinternet have the same issue).

Many thanks for any help.

[Mark39]

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@EarlGrey16 wrote:

What I was wondering was if I move the number to the VOIP provder can I subsequently ask Sky to port the number over to my account?  We have had this number for 37 years, moving from BT to Sky, back to BT, then to Vodafone and then Now, without any issues with transferring the number.  

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Check with Sky, but I don't think so. When Sky can port an existing number it's at the point they take over an existing active phone line. So far as I know, they can't port a number to an already existing Sky landline.

[rlh]

Hello. Did you get resolution on this? I want to switch broadband and landline from Now to Sky, but Sky said I couldn't keep my phone number. Really need to keep it, so want to know if there's a way round this. thanks

[EarlGrey16]

Hi, no I didn't find a way around this.  I didn't move in the end.

[Pat931]

THis is a disasterous position for people to end up in.  Sky promosed me that my mothers ladnline would be ported over.  It wasnt and now they say there is nothing they can do - she is 93 and reliant on that landline number for all contact with health services.

This is a major safguarding issue and Sky just read their computer screens and say 'No'

In this day and age it is not hard to simply retian a number, expecially one that someone has had for over 60 years, and if telling you it will be done then honor that committment.

Thier customer service support on this has been beyond shocking and sadly Ofcom do not care - their statement is that they will not investigate individual complaints but will pay  £30 compensation ofter 6 weeks!!!

Why Now ansd Sky, who are after all sister companies, cannot take ownbership and port a number over is inexplicable. Sky should be ashamed of the risk they are putting older customers under.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Pat931 wrote:

Why Now ansd Sky, who are after all sister companies, cannot take ownbership and port a number over is inexplicable. 

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We believe it's actually the relationship between the two companies which causes the problem.