Leaving company and taking phone number - currently on contract, conflicting advice.

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dolsen

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#66407 18-Aug-2010 15:42

Hi all,

My wife is leaving her job and wants to take her number with her. We've had conflicting advice about what she needs to do to take it with her.

Her employer says that it's ok to take her number and has sent the following, as advised by the Vodafone account manager,

"For me to release the number you will have to go to a Vodafone store and open an account. Vodafone will allocate you a new number (make sure it is a six digit number). Once this is done you advise me the number and my account manager will do a number swap and you will get your number.

Unfortunately if you want to go on prepaid I will not be able to release the number."

Going to the store, they advised that She can go onto prepay, and that the account manager just needs to release the number so that she can use it. Note - work has a contract with Vodafone. They will continue to pay the contract, just, swapped with a different (new) number.

Does anyone know what the facts are, do we need to go on account, or, can we just go onto pre-pay?

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#369397 18-Aug-2010 16:07

Yes, she CAN go on prepay. You'll have to get a letter from the company's authorized contact with Vodafone stating that the number is released. The Vodafone account manager for the company can provide that form/letter/thing.

I did the same, but I was on-account.

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#369410 18-Aug-2010 16:21

I had a work phone that was on a contract with Vodafone - when I left, I asked the boss if I could keep the number, to which the answer was yes, long as I sorted out the paperwork.
I wanted to take it over to prepay.....

I got told different stories by every CSR I spoke to (inc store staff), faxed that much paper it wasnt funny, in the end it turned out that if a number was on a business contract, that it cannot be transferred to prepay.

Even if I did transfer it to my personal name as a new account, it still wouldnt be allowed. But as I said, I got told different things everytime I called Vodafone... in the end PaulB contacted me and finally got it sorted out but it wasnt a standard process.

If thats changed now who knows.... JohnR/PaulB care to confirm process ? :)

Edit : Whoops... some slight mis-info that there... but found original post to Vodafone - have a read :)

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz/topic/61-on-account-to-prepay-hassle/page__p__241&#entry241

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nate

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#369454 18-Aug-2010 17:52

magu: Yes, she CAN go on prepay. You'll have to get a letter from the company's authorized contact with Vodafone stating that the number is released. The Vodafone account manager for the company can provide that form/letter/thing.

I did the same, but I was on-account.

+1

Unless the rules have changed recently, I did this a year or so back.

exportgoldman

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#369465 18-Aug-2010 18:47

From memory the commerce commission were looking into Vodafone not allowing number ports to prepay, I would just give up on this Vodafone nonsense and port out to Telecom XT or 2 degrees, both will be more than happy for your business if Vodafone muck you around.

2 Degree's allow you to port online through their website.

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#369515 18-Aug-2010 20:19

No problems going over to prepay. I've done two like this in the last month or so. One employee moved it to prepay and one went onto their own on-account $16.95 pm plan.

We were out of contract at the stage so all it took was one phone call. I asked to have the numbers released, and I could nominate a person (who had a month) to take that number. That person then just walks into any VF store and gets the number onto what ever connection they desire.

If the connection is still in a contract, the same thing can be done, but will invovle the early termination fees. No paperwork at all involved for me, but we are with VF corporate. Piece of cake the last 3 times I've done it recently for employees and just as simple for them to get the number.

johnr

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#369525 18-Aug-2010 20:33

Let me clear this up Dolsen

The number activated on the connection does not need to be 6 digits if number was going on account.

If you want to take a postpay number to prepay it will need to be moved to a on account connection 0 contract term then that connection has to be migrated to prepay. It can all be done on the same day in the matter of minutes.

John

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#369841 19-Aug-2010 15:12

exportgoldman:
From memory the commerce commission were looking into Vodafone not allowing number ports to prepay, I would just give up on this Vodafone nonsense and port out to Telecom XT or 2 degrees, both will be more than happy for your business if Vodafone muck you around.

2 Degree's allow you to port online through their website.

I can only agree this will be the most simple way to resolve the problem.

Go into store, spend $5 and buy a 2Degrees Simcard.

Go online to the 2Degrees website with the phone number and the Vodafone Account Number you want to port and you will be able to do it on the last day of work while you are still in the office. Just see the person in accounts who has the company account number and it should all be done in less than an hour.

That's what I did when I ported away, then Vodafone close the account once the customer has ported away and everyone wins.

If you then want to go onaccount/prepaid on Telecom/Vodafone just port back again.

$5 will save you hours of hassel.

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dolsen

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#369894 19-Aug-2010 16:48

BarTender:
Go online to the 2Degrees website with the phone number and the Vodafone Account Number you want to port and you will be able to do it on the last day of work while you are still in the office. Just see the person in accounts who has the company account number and it should all be done in less than an hour.

That's what I did when I ported away, then Vodafone close the account once the customer has ported away and everyone wins.

If you then want to go onaccount/prepaid on Telecom/Vodafone just port back again.

$5 will save you hours of hassel.

Not really an option to do this as the number is still in contract and there would be early termination fees. What needs to happen is the number that the contract is linked to is swapped to a different number, and, the original number is released, while, the contract continues (with a new number assigned to it). I'll send an email to the business to get their account manager to do as JohnR stated, hopefully they will be able to do this - however, it's the account manager who originally stated that it could only go to contract and not prepay.

graemeh

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#369908 19-Aug-2010 17:17

dolsen:
BarTender:
Go online to the 2Degrees website with the phone number and the Vodafone Account Number you want to port and you will be able to do it on the last day of work while you are still in the office. Just see the person in accounts who has the company account number and it should all be done in less than an hour.

That's what I did when I ported away, then Vodafone close the account once the customer has ported away and everyone wins.

If you then want to go onaccount/prepaid on Telecom/Vodafone just port back again.

$5 will save you hours of hassel.

Not really an option to do this as the number is still in contract and there would be early termination fees. What needs to happen is the number that the contract is linked to is swapped to a different number, and, the original number is released, while, the contract continues (with a new number assigned to it). I'll send an email to the business to get their account manager to do as JohnR stated, hopefully they will be able to do this - however, it's the account manager who originally stated that it could only go to contract and not prepay.

This is what John said too. It needs to go on to a new contract but the contract has no fixed term and as soon as the number is on the contract they then transfer it from contract to prepay.

The contract is only there for minutes/hours and is a stepping stone to the final destination of prepaid. :)

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#370364 20-Aug-2010 15:52

dolsen: Not really an option to do this as the number is still in contract and there would be early termination fees. What needs to happen is the number that the contract is linked to is swapped to a different number, and, the original number is released, while, the contract continues (with a new number assigned to it). I'll send an email to the business to get their account manager to do as JohnR stated, hopefully they will be able to do this - however, it's the account manager who originally stated that it could only go to contract and not prepay.

Can't be done... Since you will be changing away from a contract Vodafone has with one party, and trying to take those terms onto another party. When I tried that I was flatly told no it couldn't be done.
I had my mobile number (personal contract on 24Month term, 8 months into it) and my wifes mobile number (been with vodafone since BellSouth, still had her BellSouth simcard, on postpaid, but no contract) with my new job I had new work phone, asked if I could transfer my wifes number onto my contract and disconnect or convert to prepaid my number.

Was flatly told it was impossible.

Ported both numbers to 2Degrees, took the ETC hit, and never looked back.

dolsen

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#373128 26-Aug-2010 14:14

graemeh:
dolsen:
BarTender:
Go online to the 2Degrees website with the phone number and the Vodafone Account Number you want to port and you will be able to do it on the last day of work while you are still in the office. Just see the person in accounts who has the company account number and it should all be done in less than an hour.

That's what I did when I ported away, then Vodafone close the account once the customer has ported away and everyone wins.

If you then want to go onaccount/prepaid on Telecom/Vodafone just port back again.

$5 will save you hours of hassel.

Not really an option to do this as the number is still in contract and there would be early termination fees. What needs to happen is the number that the contract is linked to is swapped to a different number, and, the original number is released, while, the contract continues (with a new number assigned to it). I'll send an email to the business to get their account manager to do as JohnR stated, hopefully they will be able to do this - however, it's the account manager who originally stated that it could only go to contract and not prepay.

This is what John said too. It needs to go on to a new contract but the contract has no fixed term and as soon as the number is on the contract they then transfer it from contract to prepay.

The contract is only there for minutes/hours and is a stepping stone to the final destination of prepaid. :)

I sent my wife the following for her to forward on to the company who forwarded it on to their account manager (hopefully I didn't muddle any of it).

dolsen:
Have asked a few people and they have advised that there is no need to go to contract. To be more precise, you do, but, it doesn't have to be a contract term, and then, you can just move off to a prepay at the same time - see below.

here's the reply by JohnR

Let me clear this up Dolsen

The number activated on the connection does not need to be 6 digits if number was going on account.

If you want to take a postpay number to prepay it will need to be moved to a on account connection 0 contract term then that connection has to be migrated to prepay. It can all be done on the same day in the matter of minutes.

John

Probably, the safest way to get this done and not mucked up is if you send the company this, and, get their account manager to arrange a new (6 digit) number for the contract. That way, there is no chance of getting one person to wait for another person, and, them incorrectly terminating the contract etc. It also means that they can ensure that the number the contract is swapped to meets the needs of the customer (6 digit).
From what I've been told, I am not sure if the account manager will give you the new sim, the existing sim is updated, or, whether they nominate a name that the number is released to, and, you just need to go into any VF store and puts the number onto whatever connection they require.

Anyway, She was just called by the Vodafone rep who stated that she had to go into a store and sign up on a contract. Note - I beleive the requirement for a 6 digit number comes from her work, they are fine with her taking the number with her as long as they get a 6 digit number in exchange. I'm not sure if that has any bearing on the account manager stating that she has to go on a contract, but, it seems that Vodafone, or this acount manager, won't allow this to happen without her going onto a contract term.

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#373246 26-Aug-2010 17:44

dolsen: Anyway, She was just called by the Vodafone rep who stated that ...

In my experience, 99% of Vodafone reps are completely and utterly useless. My latest experience was a rep who said they'd put someone in our Vodafone family, and they hadn't. The remarkable johnr figured this out, and fixed it up for me.

The only people I'd seek advice from is PaulBrislen or johnr.

dolsen

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#373911 28-Aug-2010 12:37

nate:
dolsen: Anyway, She was just called by the Vodafone rep who stated that ...

In my experience, 99% of Vodafone reps are completely and utterly useless. My latest experience was a rep who said they'd put someone in our Vodafone family, and they hadn't. The remarkable johnr figured this out, and fixed it up for me.

The only people I'd seek advice from is PaulBrislen or johnr.

Well, I quoted JohnR in the email that was sent to them, nope, didn't matter, he again stated that we needed to get an account plan before he would transfer the number to us. Looks like I will need to sort out one of their 1 month simplicity accounts, then, immediately cancel it as he is not going to transfer the number to us otherwise (despite what I have been told here and in Vodafone stores).

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#373919 28-Aug-2010 13:15

dolsen:
nate:
dolsen: Anyway, She was just called by the Vodafone rep who stated that ...

In my experience, 99% of Vodafone reps are completely and utterly useless. My latest experience was a rep who said they'd put someone in our Vodafone family, and they hadn't. The remarkable johnr figured this out, and fixed it up for me.

The only people I'd seek advice from is PaulBrislen or johnr.

Well, I quoted JohnR in the email that was sent to them, nope, didn't matter, he again stated that we needed to get an account plan before he would transfer the number to us. Looks like I will need to sort out one of their 1 month simplicity accounts, then, immediately cancel it as he is not going to transfer the number to us otherwise (despite what I have been told here and in Vodafone stores).

I still strongly know porting to 2Degrees will be your easist option. All you will need is the company Vodafone account number and port it over. Then once it's ported either you can stay with 2Degrees, or port back to Vodafone / Telecom. Otherwise you will continue to waste many hours trying to get it sorted through Vodafone's systems.

dolsen

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#374047 28-Aug-2010 21:43

BarTender:
dolsen:
Well, I quoted JohnR in the email that was sent to them, nope, didn't matter, he again stated that we needed to get an account plan before he would transfer the number to us. Looks like I will need to sort out one of their 1 month simplicity accounts, then, immediately cancel it as he is not going to transfer the number to us otherwise (despite what I have been told here and in Vodafone stores).

I still strongly know porting to 2Degrees will be your easist option. All you will need is the company Vodafone account number and port it over. Then once it's ported either you can stay with 2Degrees, or port back to Vodafone / Telecom. Otherwise you will continue to waste many hours trying to get it sorted through Vodafone's systems.

Yeah, not really an option. Every person in the company was given an iphone, they have voip software on them so that out of the office it's their mobile, and, in the office, it's their desk phone. They have recently set this up so there is a $900 termination fee to cancel the contract.

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