I've had a landline from Virgin Media for many years but can't get Caller ID in my area. So I want to go to BT (or another phone company with Caller ID).
I need to keep my number.
How smooth is the switchover likely to be? Do I lose service for a long period? Are there often technical cockups?
> I've had a landline from Virgin Media for many years but can't get > Caller ID in my area. So I want to go to BT (or another phone > company with Caller ID).
> I need to keep my number.
> How smooth is the switchover likely to be? > Do I lose service for a long period? > Are there often technical cockups?
It should be free of problems, they have after all been doing it since 1997...
Openreach (BT) will install a new connection to your premises. I'm assuming you don't have an existing but disused BT line? When the Openreach technician has installed your line he will set in motion an automated process that will complete the required data build on the BT and VM exchanges. This may take an hour or two to complete but during that period you may receive incoming calls on either connection (dependant upon where they originate from) and you will probably be able to make calls on both lines!
The difficulty you will encounter is that your existing internal wiring is connected to the VM line and YOU will have to transfer it to the BT line - it's rumoured that tea and chocolate biscuits to the Openreach technician may resolve this problem.
In summary it should be a seamless operation and in 99.99% of the cases all goes well. The 0.01% usually take a bit of time:-(
Peter
PS Yesterday I went to a friend to look at his bedroom extension which he said had stopped working last week. He has a BT line. Upon investigation it transpired that the bedroom extension had been installed when the line was transfered to Telewest several years ago and then a year ago he went back to BT. The bedroom extension had been wired via the Telewest connexion point two floors down from his flat and Telewest, now VM, had cut the wire last week as they were providing a new line to another flat. One of the problems that arise when two operators both connect to the same internal wiring.
> It should be free of problems, they have after all been doing it since > 1997...
> Openreach (BT) will install a new connection to your premises. I'm > assuming you don't have an existing but disused BT line? When the > Openreach technician has installed your line he will set in motion an > automated process that will complete the required data build on the BT and > VM exchanges. This may take an hour or two to complete but during that > period you may receive incoming calls on either connection (dependant upon > where they originate from) and you will probably be able to make calls on > both lines!
> The difficulty you will encounter is that your existing internal wiring is > connected to the VM line and YOU will have to transfer it to the BT line - > it's rumoured that tea and chocolate biscuits to the Openreach technician > may resolve this problem.
> In summary it should be a seamless operation and in 99.99% of the cases > all goes well. The 0.01% usually take a bit of time:-(
> Peter
> PS Yesterday I went to a friend to look at his bedroom extension which he > said had stopped working last week. He has a BT line. Upon investigation > it transpired that the bedroom extension had been installed when the line > was transfered to Telewest several years ago and then a year ago he went > back to BT. The bedroom extension had been wired via the Telewest > connexion point two floors down from his flat and Telewest, now VM, had > cut the wire last week as they were providing a new line to another flat. > One of the problems that arise when two operators both connect to the same > internal wiring.
Make sure all payments to VM made. My neighbour had to have a new BT number until VM account closed. You need to be careful with the new line or reconnection of old line costs from BT, can be high, you might have to haggle.
On Wed, 4 Nov 2009 15:50:25 -0000, "Peter Andrews"
<p.andr...@blueblueyonder.co.uk> wrote: >It should be free of problems, they have after all been doing it since >1997...
>Openreach (BT) will install a new connection to your premises. I'm assuming >you don't have an existing but disused BT line? When the Openreach >technician has installed your line he will set in motion an automated >process that will complete the required data build on the BT and VM >exchanges. This may take an hour or two to complete but during that period >you may receive incoming calls on either connection (dependant upon where >they originate from) and you will probably be able to make calls on both >lines!
I have experience of this & it is exactly as above, painless. A man in a BT van comes round & plugs his yellow phone like device into your BT socket, pushes some buttons & it all sorts itself out.
As for convincing VM that they should stop billing you is another matter. It was NTL when I did it & they took some convincing that they no longer provided my phone service.
> On Wed, 4 Nov 2009 15:50:25 -0000, "Peter Andrews" > <p.andr...@blueblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>> [...]
> I have experience of this & it is exactly as above, painless. A > man in a BT van comes round & plugs his yellow phone like > device into your BT socket, pushes some buttons & it all sorts > itself out.
> As for convincing VM that they should stop billing you is > another matter. It was NTL when I did it & they took some > convincing that they no longer provided my phone service.
>> "Peter Andrews" <p.andr...@blueblueyonder.co.uk> wrote On >> 17:15 4 Nov 2009, David wrote: >>> [heavily trimmed]
>>> How smooth is a switchover from VM to BT? I've had a landline >>> from Virgin Media for many years but can't get Caller ID in >>> my area. So I want to go to BT (or another phone company >>> with Caller ID). I need to keep my number.
>> The difficulty you will encounter is that your existing >> internal wiring is connected to the VM line and YOU will have >> to transfer it to the BT line - it's rumoured that tea and >> chocolate biscuits to the Openreach technician may resolve >> this problem.
>> In summary it should be a seamless operation and in 99.99% of >> the cases all goes well. The 0.01% usually take a bit of >> time:-(
> Make sure all payments to VM made. My neighbour had to have a > new BT number until VM account closed. You need to be careful > with the new line or reconnection of old line costs from BT, > can be high, you might have to haggle.
Nevr had to changer my phone supplier. Are there any good alternatives rather than BT which I should consider?
>>> " > Nevr had to changer my phone supplier. Are there any good > alternatives rather than BT which I should consider?
Doubt it all have their faults it seems. To me seems from comment it is the Customer Service/Accounts side that is the problem not the phone service its self. Your with BT you will know all about non English speaking CS if you have needed them. -- Regards, David
> On Wed, 4 Nov 2009 15:50:25 -0000, "Peter Andrews" > <p.andr...@blueblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>>It should be free of problems, they have after all been doing it >>since >>1997...
>>Openreach (BT) will install a new connection to your premises. I'm >>assuming >>you don't have an existing but disused BT line? When the Openreach >>technician has installed your line he will set in motion an >>automated >>process that will complete the required data build on the BT and VM >>exchanges. This may take an hour or two to complete but during that >>period >>you may receive incoming calls on either connection (dependant upon >>where >>they originate from) and you will probably be able to make calls on >>both >>lines!
> I have experience of this & it is exactly as above, painless. A man > in > a BT van comes round & plugs his yellow phone like device into your > BT > socket, pushes some buttons & it all sorts itself out.
> As for convincing VM that they should stop billing you is another > matter. It was NTL when I did it & they took some convincing that > they > no longer provided my phone service.
There is a problem which does crop up now and again, where the cable co claw the number back after a few weeks leaving the end user with out going calls only, so it is something to be aware off. There was even a case fairly recently when the cable co even issued the number to a new customer and then tried to fight tooth and nail to block the number being ported back again.
> Doubt it all have their faults it seems. > To me seems from comment it is the Customer Service/Accounts side that > is the problem not the phone service its self. > Your with BT you will know all about non English speaking CS if you have > needed them.
Plusnet are good, if you have broadband too. CS is in Sheffield. In fact, they are owned by BT.
>>>It should be free of problems, they have after all been doing >>>it since 1997...
>>>Openreach (BT) will install a new connection to your premises. >>> I'm assuming >>>you don't have an existing but disused BT line? When the >>>Openreach technician has installed your line he will set in >>>motion an automated process that will complete the required >>>data build on the BT and VM exchanges. This may take an hour >>>or two to complete but during that period you may receive >>>incoming calls on either connection (dependant upon where they >>>originate from) and you will probably be able to make calls on >>>both lines!
>> I have experience of this & it is exactly as above, painless. >> A man in a BT van comes round & plugs his yellow phone like >> device into your BT socket, pushes some buttons & it all sorts >> itself out.
>> As for convincing VM that they should stop billing you is >> another matter. It was NTL when I did it & they took some >> convincing that they no longer provided my phone service.
> There is a problem which does crop up now and again, where the > cable co claw the number back after a few weeks leaving the end > user with out going calls only, so it is something to be aware > off. There was even a case fairly recently when the cable co > even issued the number to a new customer and then tried to > fight tooth and nail to block the number being ported back > again.
Jeeze! Knowing that is enough to put people off. What was the actual situation in those cases?
mike wrote: > How smooth is a switchover from VM to BT?
> I've had a landline from Virgin Media for many years but can't get > Caller ID in my area. So I want to go to BT (or another phone > company with Caller ID).
> I need to keep my number.
> How smooth is the switchover likely to be? > Do I lose service for a long period? > Are there often technical cockups?
You will hear horror stories but systems are in place to make sure things go smoothly. Mom took her cable number to BT in March '06, the port was painless and she hasn't had any problems.
The one thing you would need to check with BT is whether you would be able to get Caller ID after the port. They used to say that they can only offer services (on a ported number) which are available on the donor network, i.e. VM. Things may have changed but it's worth asking the question.
> mike wrote: >> How smooth is a switchover from VM to BT?
>> I've had a landline from Virgin Media for many years but can't >> get Caller ID in my area. So I want to go to BT (or another >> phone company with Caller ID).
>> I need to keep my number.
>> How smooth is the switchover likely to be? >> Do I lose service for a long period? >> Are there often technical cockups?
> You will hear horror stories but systems are in place to make > sure things go smoothly. Mom took her cable number to BT in > March '06, the port was painless and she hasn't had any > problems.
> The one thing you would need to check with BT is whether you > would be able to get Caller ID after the port. They used to say > that they can only offer services (on a ported number) which > are available on the donor network, i.e. VM. Things may have > changed but it's worth asking the question.
Now that's important.
If I'm moving to BT from VM to get caller ID then it would be a problem if I couldn't get it when I got to BT!
Do you know where that possible difficulty is actually stated?
The line was originally provided by BT and went to VM about 15 years ago. Is there anything VM could have changed which now prevents BT providing caller ID?
>> mike wrote: >>> How smooth is a switchover from VM to BT?
>>> I've had a landline from Virgin Media for many years but can't >>> get Caller ID in my area. So I want to go to BT (or another >>> phone company with Caller ID).
>>> I need to keep my number.
>>> How smooth is the switchover likely to be? >>> Do I lose service for a long period? >>> Are there often technical cockups?
>> You will hear horror stories but systems are in place to make >> sure things go smoothly. Mom took her cable number to BT in >> March '06, the port was painless and she hasn't had any >> problems.
>> The one thing you would need to check with BT is whether you >> would be able to get Caller ID after the port. They used to say >> that they can only offer services (on a ported number) which >> are available on the donor network, i.e. VM. Things may have >> changed but it's worth asking the question.
> Now that's important.
> If I'm moving to BT from VM to get caller ID then it would be a > problem if I couldn't get it when I got to BT!
> Do you know where that possible difficulty is actually stated?
> The line was originally provided by BT and went to VM about 15 years > ago. Is there anything VM could have changed which now prevents BT > providing caller ID?
No CLI should not be a problem, however do you have a VM or a BT number (you will need to consult the Ofcom number lists to confirm)? As you moved your service to VM 15 years ago you may not have ported your BT number. If you have a VM number then some, indeed the majority, of your incoming calls will continue to transit the VM network after you have ported back to BT - in practice this is not a problem.
>>>>It should be free of problems, they have after all been doing >>>>it since 1997...
>>>>Openreach (BT) will install a new connection to your premises. >>>> I'm assuming >>>>you don't have an existing but disused BT line? When the >>>>Openreach technician has installed your line he will set in >>>>motion an automated process that will complete the required >>>>data build on the BT and VM exchanges. This may take an hour >>>>or two to complete but during that period you may receive >>>>incoming calls on either connection (dependant upon where they >>>>originate from) and you will probably be able to make calls on >>>>both lines!
>>> I have experience of this & it is exactly as above, painless. >>> A man in a BT van comes round & plugs his yellow phone like >>> device into your BT socket, pushes some buttons & it all sorts >>> itself out.
>>> As for convincing VM that they should stop billing you is >>> another matter. It was NTL when I did it & they took some >>> convincing that they no longer provided my phone service.
>> There is a problem which does crop up now and again, where the >> cable co claw the number back after a few weeks leaving the end >> user with out going calls only, so it is something to be aware >> off. There was even a case fairly recently when the cable co >> even issued the number to a new customer and then tried to >> fight tooth and nail to block the number being ported back >> again.
> Jeeze! Knowing that is enough to put people off. What was the > actual situation in those cases?
Sorry about the delay in reply. All instances eventually result with the end user getting the number they wanted to port. It's just the hoops which the openreach engineer has to jump thru which takes the time, as all instances will be passed down as a line fault, in the first instance, as everything is down to the hairy arsed multi skilled linesman to sort out
>>> mike wrote: >>>> How smooth is a switchover from VM to BT?
>>>> I've had a landline from Virgin Media for many years but >>>> can't get Caller ID in my area. So I want to go to BT (or >>>> another phone company with Caller ID).
>>>> I need to keep my number.
>>>> How smooth is the switchover likely to be? >>>> Do I lose service for a long period? >>>> Are there often technical cockups?
>>> You will hear horror stories but systems are in place to make >>> sure things go smoothly. Mom took her cable number to BT in >>> March '06, the port was painless and she hasn't had any >>> problems.
>>> The one thing you would need to check with BT is whether you >>> would be able to get Caller ID after the port. They used to >>> say that they can only offer services (on a ported number) >>> which are available on the donor network, i.e. VM. Things may >>> have changed but it's worth asking the question.
>> Now that's important.
>> If I'm moving to BT from VM to get caller ID then it would be >> a problem if I couldn't get it when I got to BT!
>> Do you know where that possible difficulty is actually stated?
>> The line was originally provided by BT and went to VM about 15 >> years ago. Is there anything VM could have changed which now >> prevents BT providing caller ID?
> No CLI should not be a problem, however do you have a VM or a > BT number (you will need to consult the Ofcom number lists to > confirm)? As you moved your service to VM 15 years ago you may > not have ported your BT number. If you have a VM number then > some, indeed the majority, of your incoming calls will continue > to transit the VM network after you have ported back to BT - in > practice this is not a problem.
> Peter
I've not heard of those Ofcom numbers lists.
I took a look but got lost on the web site. Do you have a link?
Interestingly I've just looked up my service provider for a VOIP (0208) number that I have from Sipgate, the number range is allocated to a company that has it's registered office at a terraced house in a tiny hamlet in Yorkshire! ...and are small enough to have (TOTAL EXEMPTION SMALL) for their accounts.
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