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Number Porting Question
DXRulz
Posts: 4,317 Forum Member
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I understand that when you port your number the old network has to redirect to the new network (who then has control of your number once its ported in). But what happens when you port a number from its original network to another one and then port it again?
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There's soon to be a central database (did I read that on here?) so that numbers don't 'belong' to a network as such and therefore won't have to be re-directed.
I believe the (current) UK porting system is unique - no one else in the world operates the system that we do. There's a term for this, what it is I can't remember.
Hopefully the move to the system that the rest of the world uses will take away the silly 3 working day period for what is effectively an automated change in a database somewhere.
According to Wikipedia, we are the only country to use "donor-led" porting and routing calls through the donor's network - and even that appears to be changing.
You make it seem as if two working days is much better than three for what is still effectively an automated change. Why can't it be done in minutes like in some other countries (aside from opposition by some of the networks)?
Well when i asked O2 for my PAC yesterday (because their 3G is awful!!) they just gave me it, no questions asked!
Im going to have to wait till tuesday to use it though...
I think you will find that basing an argument on a Wikipedia article is fraught with danger and liable to leave you corrected by someone .
I was merely correcting your three day claim. I didn't make any comment as to its acceptability. I happen to think that two days is too long, a few hours would be better.
I think you've misunderstood what donor led porting means. It doesn't refer to the routing of incoming calls by your original network. Its nothing to do with the mechanics of making calls or whether there is a database.
It means that when you want to port a number, you contact your current network. They are then in charge of the process.
The alternative is to put your new provider in control of the port. The advantage to the consumer is that it's one less phone call to make. The disadvantage to the consumer is that your number could be slammed and find yourself unknowingly changing networks.
For the networks it has the advantage that someone can take up an offer immediately, without having to go back to their current network and possibly changing their mind. But this is also a disadvantage as customers could leave without the chance to keep them.
I don't know what will happen. The experience of recipient led porting/migration in the power companies and other communication areas, which has been generally bad for the consumer, may mean we stick with donor led. But its possible that OfCom will come up with some way to protect the consumer.
I think you've misunderstood what I said. I said "donor led porting and routing calls through the donor's network" - two different concepts. I wasn't trying to say that one must mean the other.
How does every other country prevent this? Would it be too much work to ensure that the customer absolutely wants to port?
Wikipedia is written and edited by the general public, much like these forums are. Why should someone be any more inclined to believe what they read here than on Wiki, or anywhere else on the internet?
Wouldn't you agree that many postings on here are based on information gained from the internet, which may or may not be accurate?
I agree with what you say about Wikipedia, but surely the same rules apply when reading advice/information given here - that information supplied by users on DS is not necessarily correct?
Three is the only network that supports shortening the port process. All the other networks are dead set against it, and you can bet Everything Everywhere with it's two brands will be the first to object.....
I should expect come 2012 we will be inline with the rest of europe and individuals will be able to have their number ported within the same day.
The worst experience I've ever had getting a PAC has been Three - they pretend not to understand what you've said, and it can take half an hour or more of them repeating themselves and offering you increasingly desperate deals before you finally get a code out of them. I was on the verge of just giving up my number and literally had to start raising my voice and saying over-and-over, "can you give me my PAC, please?" It's a shame, because apart from the hellishly awful retentions people, I never had a problem with them.