Vodafone recycling numbers

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MichaelNZ

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#228811 23-Jan-2018 18:47

I buy a new prepaid SIM for my tablet and within a couple of weeks find out it's been someone else's number before. Manila doesn't have a clue. I was offered a blank sim swap, whatever that would achieve...?

What can be done in these situations and is it possible to get a data-only SIM?

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#1945637 23-Jan-2018 19:00

I also have one of these numbers, 021 xxx xxx.. Generally the 9 digit range is recycles due to there only being 999,999 of them and highly desirable.
I also receive notifications time to time from the previous owner, I just advise who ever is calling or texting that such person does not own this phone anymore and that they cease all further communication.
Had a debt agency contacting me about the previous owner too and that one liner worked for them as well.

Heck, if you went down to a Ponsonby bar I bet it will be hard to find something that isn't recycled..

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#1945661 23-Jan-2018 19:34

All carriers recycle numbers what is the actual issue? I managed the VodafoneNZ number ranges for about 5 years

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Edit: getting a blank SIM is pointless

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#1945664 23-Jan-2018 19:38

Call Vodafone and request the OCCF to be turned off so incoming calls don't reach the voicemail platform

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dylanp

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#1945673 23-Jan-2018 19:56

Coil:

I also have one of these numbers, 021 xxx xxx.. Generally the 9 digit range is recycles due to there only being 999,999 of them and highly desirable....

Far fewer than that iirc - Linux would be able to confirm of course, but 021 1xx xxxx and 021 2xx xxxx are the old lot of prepay numbers (so that removes 200,000 from the pool); then I think there's 021 0xxx xxxx as well (there goes another 100K), and then a smattering of system numbers like 021 700 700 for voicemail etc. so I'd guess maybe 650k? The data sims I have from Vodafone are actually 020 523 xxxxx. One of them is a prepay format number actually, but I've had that one quite a while - 021 190 xxxx

Anyway, they're data sims. They don't receive phone calls or text messages aside from the vodem software silly top up ones, but most people would surely be on shared data things now probably.

It's like old times to be ranting with you two about these things. We should drink beer sometime. :)

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#1945693 23-Jan-2018 20:06

Out of the 9 digit number range 0213xxxxx to 0219xxxxx quite a big block in the middle was for the mobile fax range and any incoming calls were sent direct to the Voicemail platform

I could write quite a bit about the number ranges but don't want to put people to sleep

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russelo

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#1945695 23-Jan-2018 20:10

According to 2degrees customer care rep, recycled numbers go to quarantine for 30 days before they are made available for reuse.

30 days seems too short for contacts to forget the number.

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#1945701 23-Jan-2018 20:15

Vodafone is 90 days

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MikeHales

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#1945872 24-Jan-2018 09:56

Well, listen to you ex-Vodafoners!

MichaelNZ

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#1945876 24-Jan-2018 09:58

MikeHales:

Well, listen to you ex-Vodafoners!

Er, what?

Can you help with this matter please?

Ideally a new, unused number or even better, a data only SIM as it's only being used in a tablet.

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MikeHales

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#1945879 24-Jan-2018 10:01

@MichaelNZ

Apologies, numbers are recycled. There should be no issue with you having a recycled number as long as the previous customer isn't still using. I can speak from experience as my old number got recycled by mistake but it's very very rare.

MichaelNZ

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#1945890 24-Jan-2018 10:13

MikeHales:

@MichaelNZ

Apologies, numbers are recycled. There should be no issue with you having a recycled number as long as the previous customer isn't still using. I can speak from experience as my old number got recycled by mistake but it's very very rare.

I do have an issue with receiving a text promoting a casino, coming from a 4 digit "premium number", and it cost me 20 cents to text "STOP", and furthermore, the provider's number given to me by your Manila-based customer services just rings a few times and then disconnects.

This is the sort of stunt I became accustomed to seeing while in the Philippines, from their local telcos. Claim to fix the issue but in actuality do nothing. In the end, I asked my wife to speak with them in Tagalog to try (unsuccessfully) and get some sense.

Given the number of data devices out there, it makes no sense you don't have a data-only SIM.

Given your company's attitude (and that of 2degrees as well) towards "premium texts", it appears the text senders are your customers, not the recipient.

Do you have a solution?

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MikeHales

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#1945891 24-Jan-2018 10:15

@MichaelNZ

Would recommend popping into a store, get your plan swapped to new number and SIM card, if the TXTs are still coming. Apologies for the hassle.

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#1945901 24-Jan-2018 10:36

@MichaelNZ The reply ' STOP ' has to be free and all Prepay data only connections are standard 021 / 029 numbers anyway only Posptay connections use 64205* range and this range can not be moved to Prepay

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#1945905 24-Jan-2018 10:39

MichaelNZ:

MikeHales:

Well, listen to you ex-Vodafoners!

Er, what?

Can you help with this matter please?

Ideally a new, unused number or even better, a data only SIM as it's only being used in a tablet.

@MichaelNZ He means listen to me as I would know far more than @mikehales (nothing against Mike)

I worked for VodafoneNZ for just over 17 years until I was swapped out for a cheaper younger model from another country

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#1945907 24-Jan-2018 10:40

MikeHales:

@MichaelNZ

Would recommend popping into a store, get your plan swapped to new number and SIM card, if the TXTs are still coming. Apologies for the hassle.

This is not really the best advice sorry but what would I know

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