Can't port number from Vonage to another carrier???

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Apr 05, 2005 Posts: 34

I'm moving back to an analog phone service, but no local carrier I talk to; SBC, MCI, AT&T, can port my number away from Vonage.

I was assigned the number originally from SBC, then moved it to MCI, then to Vonage. Now I am told that my Vonage number is not available at my location (even though its the same location I was first assigned the number at).

How do I get my phone number back from Vonage?? Are they excempt from LNP becasue they are VOIP??

HELP!!!

Even if I have to transfer it to a cell phone, then to analog, I'd still be happy.

I re-read my Vonage welcome kit and order form and nowhere does it state that once a number is ported to Vonage that it can never leave.

Doug

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 15, 2005 Posts: 10

whats the outcome of your story ? (sorry I am no help, but I'd like to know if I should port any numbers...)

Thanks..

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Apr 05, 2005 Posts: 34

Turbo13 wrote:

whats the outcome of your story ? (sorry I am no help, but I'd like to know if I should port any numbers...)

Thanks..

I have been assigned a new number. I was hoping a Vonage rep would have offered insight.

I must say that i am very dissapointed in this situation and I feel like I got screwed. Considering I just wanted to change my home service and I left all my business service with Vonage, you would think they would still care. They blame the Local carrier, the local carrier blames Vonage.

Crappy part is that now I have to pay for both services so I can leave an outgoing message telling everyone my new number (which is even in the same exchange as my old number!), so its going to cost me a few hundred dollas extra over the next six months than if I would have never switched to Vonage.

Stupid Me

Doug

Posts: 2251

mohrds wrote:

I re-read my Vonage welcome kit and order form and nowhere does it state that once a number is ported to Vonage that it can never leave.

Doug

Hi Doug:

It does not say it, because it is not true. Your issue is with your new carriers ability to port, Vonage is not holding your number.

You need to work this issue with your new carrier, there is nothing anyone here can do for you.

Good luck

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 15, 2005 Posts: 10

Hi Doug,

Thank you for the answer. After asking you about the situation, I kept on digging for answers. So I found this under help (don't ask how I got there):
http://www.vonage.com/help.php?article=479

If you can't there here it is:
----------------
Can I get my old number back if I change my mind?

You must decide carefully before choosing a new number. Once you give up your number, it will be re-used by another Vonage customer and you won't be able to get it back. Remember, you always have the option of keeping your old number as a virtual number.
-----------------

So whoever said that its not Vonage policy and your phone company issue is just making up answers as they go.

I think a "feature" like this should be displayed right next to the transfer your number button, not under 20feet of dirt.

Also I noticed that its advertised that you can get a virtual number for the above so you can just transfer it arround, but then elsewhere they tell you you need an account to be worthy to pay 4.99 for the virtual number. So in short if you cancel Vonage and what to keep your virtual number then you have to pay minum fee of $15 + $4.99. ...

After reading all the above I guess its best to just keep your number and pay the phone company for the 7.99 for the line fee + ?? for the transfer service.

Posts: 2251 · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:37 pm Post subject:

Turbo13 wrote:

----------------
Can I get my old number back if I change my mind?

You must decide carefully before choosing a new number. Once you give up your number, it will be re-used by another Vonage customer and you won't be able to get it back. Remember, you always have the option of keeping your old number as a virtual number.
-----------------

So whoever said that its not Vonage policy and your phone company issue is just making up answers as they go.

This is two completely different issues. Once you cancel your account, you will lose all numbers associated with it with any phone company.

This is how portability works industry wide, and Vonage is just reminding you of that.

But, you can always port out your main number, however, your account must be active. You can not port something you do not own.

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Apr 05, 2005 Posts: 34

dconnor wrote:

Hi Doug:

It does not say it, because it is not true. Your issue is with your new carriers ability to port, Vonage is not holding your number.

You need to work this issue with your new carrier, there is nothing anyone here can do for you.

Good luck

That's exactly the arrogant atitude I'm sick of. When I have AT&T, SBC, and MCI techs telling me that the number has been removed from my local area, and Vonage and you tell me that's not true, who should I beleive?

BTW: Just for "fun" I stopped by the Cingular store over lunch and guess what? They can't transfer the number either.

But I guess it must be all of them becasue Vonage never makes mistakes...

You know if some at Vonage would even say "Hold on, I'll have a tech check the provisionings to make sure everything is correct in the database." I'd be happy. But no, its "someone else's fault" even though the someone else is every carrier liscensed to provide service in SE Wisconsin.

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Apr 05, 2005 Posts: 34

Turbo13 wrote:

Hi Doug,

Can I get my old number back if I change my mind?

You must decide carefully before choosing a new number. Once you give up your number, it will be re-used by another Vonage customer and you won't be able to get it back. Remember, you always have the option of keeping your old number as a virtual number.

That applies to accounts that are closed, not LNP transfers out.

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Apr 05, 2005 Posts: 34

Just spoke to an LNP tech at AT&T. We researched numbers on either side of mine with some pretty interesting results:

xxx-xxx-1205 -> Transferable (Not my number)
xxx-xxx-1206 -> Transferable (Not my number)
xxx-xxx-1207 -> Not Transferable - Out of service area (my number)
xxx-xxx-1208 -> Transferable (Not my number)
xxx-xxx-1209 -> Transferable (Not my number)

I don't see how Vonage can tell me this is "Not their problem"

Posts: 2251

mohrds wrote:

BTW: I stopped by the Cingular store over lunch and guess what? They can't transfer the number either.

You can not port a landline to a wireless service, at least I can not. Maybe you know something I don't.

What are the landline carriers telling you? In detail.

FYI, I am far from arrogant, I just type like it.

Smile