Number portability experience

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 23, 2004 Posts: 2

Before ordering my Vonage business service, Vonage instructed me that I would need to make my primary voice line a DSL line, so I could port my existing business voice line number to Vonage. Although I had DSL on a second line, I went to the expense of adding DSL capability to my voice line.

After 3 months of screw-ups by Vonage staff (my number transfer authorization was accepted by Vonage on December 18, 2003), I still don't have Voip service, and the Vonage number transfer group informed me today that my LEC (Verizon in Los Gatos, CA) would not port my voice number to Vonage because it is on a DSL line!

I read recently that this as a new scam that the LEC's are using to prevent their subscribers from moving to Voip service, and I was afraid that this would become the next delay in my odyssey. Unfortunately, I was correct.

I feel that Vonage is in a far better position than I am to break this illegal logjam, but apparently they are disinterested. I guess they forgot that they caused the problem.

Has anyone else encountered this Catch-22? If so, did you resolve it, and how?

Posts: 33 · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 9:15 pm Post subject:

ouch!!!

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 23, 2004 Posts: 2

It gets better:

I contacted my LEC and DSL service provider (Verizon-Los Gatos, CA) today, and they presented me with their Final Solution for the eradication of Vonage and other Voip service providers. Verizon's business policy is that they will not provide DSL service unless you subscribe to their telephone service.

Vonage LNP staff (described accurately in other posts here) have opined that I should keep the Verizon business telephone service and add Vonage service on top of it. However, in order to use all of Vonage's "great savings," I would also have to change my business telephone number -- not a great proposition for a small business.

The net cost of all of this, for basic service on one line only, would be about $13 more than I am currently paying for two lines on Verizon. Sure, the Vonage service has a lot of whiz-bang software gimmicks, but the bottom line is that they provide no quality-of-service guarantee, and I can get very reasonable long distance rates from add-on LD carriers that are not on Verizon's hit list.

After fighting for Vonage Voip service for over 3 months with no pro-active customer service assistance, and still no service activation, I've decided to cancel my order and send the equipment back. I will update the forum on how Vonage reacts to this loss of business.

Posts: 104 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jan 31, 2004 Posts: 104

I have successfuly ported two phone numbers to Vonage.

The first port (in March 2003) was moving an MCI Network Neighborhood UNE-P line (connected to Verizon). Total time from submission until the line was changed: 22 days

The second port (more recent, in March 2004) was moving a Verizon residential line to Vonage. Total time from submission until the line was changed: 24 days

Both ports appear to have gone without incident.

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 14, 2004 Posts: 5

Grand Rapids, Michigan. SBC/Ameritech.

Updated Date: Number Transfer Progress History:
March 4, 2004 Awaiting Letter of Authorization
March 8, 2004 Letter of Authorization (LOA) Received
March 9, 2004 Transfer Sent to Carrier
March 22, 2004 Carrier Approved Transfer
March 24, 2004 Completed LNP Transfer

roXX0r Wink

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 10, 2004 Posts: 4

December 19   Awaiting Letter of Authorization
December 20   Letter of Authorization received
January 5        Transfer sent to carrier
January 19      Carrier approved transfer (scheduled 01/22)
January 23      E-mail from Vonage: transfer not completed;
                       port pushed out
February 28     E-mail from me: what's the status?
February 29     E-mail from Vonage: checking status
April 2              Phone call from me: what's the status?
                       ("Dunno. We'll credit your account.")
April 5              E-mail from Vonage: checking status

Posts: 33 · Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 2:27 pm Post subject:

wow, I would be extremely freakin angry

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 10, 2004 Posts: 4

If the port isn't done by 4/22, we'll cancel our subscription. BTW, we don't have any of the stuff Vonage claims can slow down LNP (multi-use lines, special ring tones, etc.)--just plain vanilla POTS with Verizon.

Has anyone topped our wait (77 business days and counting)?

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 09, 2004 Posts: 8

I think I'm the long wait champion at >100 business days (I can't count that high).

October 8, 2003 Awaiting Letter of Authorization
October 10, 2003 Letter of Authorization (LOA) Received
October 16, 2003 Transfer Sent to Carrier
March 4, 2004 Carrier Approved Transfer
March 4, 2004 Completed LNP Transfer

But, now my service is great. Eek

Posts: 14 · Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:30 am Post subject:

Internet & Telephone Provider RCN Boston MA

Updated Date: Number Transfer Progress History:
March 29, 2004 Awaiting Letter of Authorization
April 1, 2004 Letter of Authorization (LOA) Received
April 3, 2004 Transfer Sent to Carrier

April 12, Called Vonage to get the 3rd Party (FOCAL) that was handling
the transfer.
April 13 Called FOCAL (Boston Area) and was told my # was sent to
RCN and could expect the # to be ported on April 19th..I will
let the forum know...ciao