A new guide to Number Portability for Business Telephone Numbers

Many end users of Non-Geographic Numbers are not aware that they can port their numbers to other providers in order to get a better deal. Often Communication Service providers simply stall or misinform their clients on the options available to them.
This document sets out to clarify the position as outlined by Ofcom in their change of policy with effect from September 2009 and help customers make more informed decisions on their number options.
The key changes to the policy are as follows:-
Ofcom requires of communications providers delivering Publicly Available Telephone Services (PATS) regarding their A href=”http://www.intelesis.co.uk/numberPorting.php”>number portability obligations.

In particular to comply with General Condition 18 and General Condition 10 Ofcom says, “It is reasonable for communication providers to make clear whether or not they have porting arrangements established.

And “We consider that providers should supply, at least on reasonable request, details of who they have established porting arrangements with”

In addition, “to minimise the impact of this clarification, we consider it proportionate and appropriate for communications providers to make the necessary amendments to any marketing materials, written documentation and websites as part of any standard upgrade programmes”

How do I port geographic or non-geographic telephone number?

Every communication service provider has access to a copy of the standard porting form that can be made available upon reasonable request – written or verbal. This is normally designated as a Geographic Number Porting form (GNP) or more likely a Non-Geographic Number form.

The normal process is to ensure that all of the information is correct i.e. the exact name of customer as seen on the top of the bill together with the relevant account number. The relevant telephone numbers that the consumer wishes to transfer together with the underlying number or the destination number is also required.

It is important to understand that the number is actually owned

The normal process should take no more than 10 working days but can be rejected for a number of reasons as we outline below:

1. The company who purchased the number has changed names and the carrier has not been updated. The original company must provide its details when porting is required;
2. The account number is not made available by the loosing service provider;
3. The originating service provider i.e. the carrier who the number was released to attempts to offer a better service when the number is ported back in before being ported back out again – this will cause inevitable delays

Numbers can be ported between service providers so long as they have an agreement between the parties to do so. Where this is not the case, then the number can only be ported to those providers which do have an agreement in place. Typically most, if not all, providers will have an agreement in place and most of the large carriers will have multiple agreements in place.

Some numbers which have already been ported may not be ported across to another provide unless the number is first ported back to the original service provider and then out again to a different provider.