My parents are moving from the family home they've lived in for 40 years to a flat. They want to keep their phone number (both are on the same exchange I think)

The switched to NTL a few years back but will be on BT at the new place. BT have told them that it's not possible for them to keep move with their old number as it's an NTL number. They say that had my parents been with BT at their old house then it would have been fine - but as they were with NTL its not possible to move the number with them.

This sounds like utter crap to me - I don't see why Ofcom would allow this. Any ideas if it's true or not?

Are they moving to a non-cabled area ? If so, then unless things have changed in the last 12 months, it looks as though its true

There's no cable in flats they're moving to I don't think.

They moved the number from BT to NTL so I didn't think it made a difference...

Can they move back to BT at the old place first?

but doing that will make them have another 12-18 month contract that the old place

Don't think they can really. They're moving in three days.

Apparently at first it was going to be no problem but it suddenly became not possible last week.

your parents could take any old number off bt at the
new address, but ask the cable co. to put the existing
number on cni (changed number interception) or rcf
(remote call forwarding) so they wouldnt miss any calls
and if/when the cable co. hand back the number to bt then
your parents could ask bt for a renumber to the original
number but this would need the cable company to sort out first, seems odd to blame bt for not being able to offer a
number that has been 'exported' to another company

Hi,

Sadly it is true what BT are saying. This happened to me, I ported my number over to what was then Telewest and when I was due to move four months later I was told that I was unable to take my number with me as this belonged to BT.

The only option they have is to wait 7 days for NTL to throw it back in the number pool (BT term!!) and then call BT to have a line connected, therfore keeping the same telephone number.

Hope they get it sorted.

BT aren't lying, but it sounds like they weren't very helpful either.

Your parents firstly need to get BT to import the number back from NTL at their current address. Depending on how long ago the BT line was ceased, they may need to pay an installation charge. Once it is back from NTL, they can they get the BT homemovers department to move it to the new premises (as long as it is on the same exchange). Of course they may then need to pay another installation charge.

Good luck