Vodafone: I want to choose a pre-pay number...

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Vodafone: I want to choose a pre-pay number...

mm1352000

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#58937 23-Mar-2010 18:39

Hi

I have spoken to several VF representatives over the phone and asked whether it is possible to choose my number when joining VF prepay. All have said "no". Here's the thing: I kinda understand why I've been told "no" but I am *very* keen to acquire this number! Its nothing flash or particularly memorable (except to me, because I have the same suffix already on Telecom and 2degrees) however I would be willing to *pay* to get it. When I ring the number I get "the number you have called is currently not active." Is there any (and I really do mean *any*, within reason) way to get this number?

TIA

simon14

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#310342 23-Mar-2010 18:56

You can't choose a number for prepay.

BUT... you can choose from a range of numbers for on account. So, you could technically sign up for an account, and hope that your number is currently one of the series of numbers currently available for adoption. Then, you could break your contract and port to Prepay.

It's a long shot but it could potentially work.

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johnr

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#310347 23-Mar-2010 19:10

The reps are correct

eugeneykc

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#310430 23-Mar-2010 22:16

I guess you can do it the following ways, depending on what you prefer:

1. Sign up with motormouth for a month, pick your number, then switch to prepay (you get an 021 number)
2. Buy a 2Degrees SIM, pick you number, then port to Vodafone (you get an 022 number)
3. Sign up with Black and White for a month, pick you number, then port to Vodafone (you get an 028 number)

I don't think you can pick your number with Telecom prepaid?

simon14

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#310436 23-Mar-2010 22:31

eugeneykc: I guess you can do it the following ways, depending on what you prefer:

1. Sign up with motormouth for a month, pick your number, then switch to prepay (you get an 021 number)
2. Buy a 2Degrees SIM, pick you number, then port to Vodafone (you get an 022 number)
3. Sign up with Black and White for a month, pick you number, then port to Vodafone (you get an 028 number)

I don't think you can pick your number with Telecom prepaid?

Can you still sign up to Motormouth on account and for no term? I didn't realise that....

eugeneykc

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#310437 23-Mar-2010 22:35

I think you can

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/plans/on-account/motormouth.jsp

johnr can give you a more definite answer ...

mm1352000

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#310438 23-Mar-2010 22:38

Thanks for the suggestions and info. To clarify my situation: up until a couple of weeks ago my only phone had been a cheap Telecom CDMA prepay phone. I decided I wanted a significant upgrade and ended up buying a Nokia N97 (compatible with VF and 2d). I will be keeping and operating both phones because the Tcom PP has proved bulletproof (water and concrete don't kill it) and there are some places and situations (weekly) where I would rather not risk taking the N97 but still need a phone. I decided to put the N97 on 2d prepay (for the cheap calling and text prices) but can see myself using a fair amount of data so would like to go on VF prepay with broadband lite as well. In an ideal world I'd be able to switch networks at the press of a button on a single phone and have a single phone number, however I know this is not possible so I'm swinging for the next best thing. In my case I decided that would be keeping the Tcom PP on 027 xxxxxxx and having a SIM for 2d on 022 xxxxxxx and another SIM for VF on 021 xxxxxxx (where xxxxxxx is the same on all 3 networks). I was lucky enough (or perhaps my number is random enough) to get the 2d number I wanted. Now all that is missing is the VF number...

mm1352000

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#310450 23-Mar-2010 22:56

@eugeneykc
I can't see any opportunity to pick a number on VF other than at the checkout when you go on-account (any plan), and at that case there is a limited selection. Am I missing something?

If that is the best I can do then I almost might as well buy another 2d sim, pick my number (I know many similar and neighbouring numbers to xxxxxxx are available), and then port it to VF prepay. I'd rather not do that though...

scottjpalmer

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#310465 23-Mar-2010 23:44

eugeneykc: I don't think you can pick your number with Telecom prepaid?

You can :-)

richms

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#310471 24-Mar-2010 00:22

mm1352000: @eugeneykc
I can't see any opportunity to pick a number on VF other than at the checkout when you go on-account (any plan), and at that case there is a limited selection. Am I missing something?

If that is the best I can do then I almost might as well buy another 2d sim, pick my number (I know many similar and neighbouring numbers to xxxxxxx are available), and then port it to VF prepay. I'd rather not do that though...

You do it instore, but it it is in a range assigned to prepay packs then they cant take it for a new plan connection, there are limits on what they can give you as a plan. And they are all pretty average.

In the old days pre portability VF would go out of their way to try to match the number you had on telecom but changing the 027 or 025 for 021 - now they dont do that.

Richard rich.ms

michaelmurfy

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#310476 24-Mar-2010 00:33

eugeneykc: I think you can

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/plans/on-account/motormouth.jsp

johnr can give you a more definite answer ...

I could too, and you can do it this way - Sign up to a Motormouth Plan, pick the number then go back to Prepay (since it's a No-Term Contract)

It's quite a long process since you still need to go through the signup process, then port to Prepay, but shouldn't take any longer than 15mins with most reps.

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johnr

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#310485 24-Mar-2010 04:57

you could always port the 027 number to vodafone prepay

mm1352000

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#310496 24-Mar-2010 07:12

johnr: you could always port the 027 number to vodafone prepay

As I mentioned earlier, I want to keep that CDMA phone operating because it is pretty rugged. My understanding is that it would be just as much of a lucky dip as to what number the phone would be assigned if I ported the current number and then reconnected the phone.

I have to say that I'm a little surprised that this isn't possible. Given that the number I want isn't active right now, I would've thought that the only issue with assigning me the number (asside from that it is not generally allowed) would be if it were allocated to a SIM card already. Without giving away my number or any VF internal confidential info, how much can VF deduce from one of their phone numbers (assuming it hasn't been ported)? For example, do they know that certain ranges of numbers are on-account while others are prepay? Would they know if a number had ever been allocated to a SIM? If it was a really old prepay number that had lapsed, what would be wrong with giving it to me?

I guess at the end of the day the answer is still "no". Just wanting to explore the reasoning a little...

johnr

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#310507 24-Mar-2010 07:48

just cause the number is not active does not mean it can be allocated PM me the number if you like and I will see if it can be allocated to a connection

mm1352000

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#311882 27-Mar-2010 15:50

Thanks to all for your advice. I got pretty much what I wanted via the "MotorMouth method". Thanks also specifically to johnr for your help!