A word of warning to those of you who have ported your landline numbers since April 1:

I just received a call from a customer this morning, saying:

"Have you guys closed down or changed your name or something?"

This was because the 018 Directory Service told him that our number was disconnected...

Obviously, this is not the impression we want to give customers, so I was at pains to assure him that, no, nothing had changed except our Telco.

1)  Straight away I called Telecom Directories who told me it was Telecom's problem, and so I would have to talk to them.

2)  Called Telecom Business on 126 who straight away picked up that the line used to be rented via TCL, so we would have to talk to them.  Hang on I said, that number is now provided by WorldxChange, not TCL.  Oh well, you'll have to talk to them then.  There is one service order that needs to be filled out by the provider of the phone number which is then sent to Telecom Directories, thus ensuring your listing in the White Pages AND the 018 service.

So, IT IS Telecom Directories who provide both services then?, I asked.  Yes. one common database he said.

3)  So I called Telecom Directories again who sheepishly admitted that Yes, they provide both the 018 service and the White Pages.  So, how come my listing is still in the On-line White Pages, but not on 018 I asked?

The person I spoke to admitted he had never struck this situation before and then offered to submit a listing request for my ported number as though it was a paid listing, because after all, I still have one Telecom Business line, which entitles me to that listing.

I have to check the 018 directory again after more than 48 hours to see if this has taken effect.  Fingers crossed