Vodafone Re-uses Old Numbers?

Wingz · 21 Dec 2007 at 17:29

I got a contract on the N95 last week and these last 3 days I've been getting calls and 2 txt msgs from people look for a Claire Reeves, not had a chance to call vodafone yet but looks like the number was once used.

jonislost · 21 Dec 2007 at 17:37

Yep thats what they do, my bosses old mob had loads of ringtones being sent through and she was being charged £3 a shot! She got the money back eventually.

Luke · 21 Dec 2007 at 22:33

That might explain why I keep getting random calls on my new Vodafone contract.

Wingz · 21 Dec 2007 at 22:44

I'll probably call them up tomorrow to complain but read on another forum that I would be charged £25 to change numbers which will probably had belonged to someone else.

Dolph · 21 Dec 2007 at 23:01

All mobile networks reuse numbers, there are only so many to go around. What normally happens is that there is a time delay between when it was last used and when it becomes available to be reallocated.

The chances of getting a new number are small, it only happens when a new prefix range is introduced.

JBod · 21 Dec 2007 at 23:03

This is why whenever I am changing contracts/numbers I always turn the old number into a PAYG and keep the SIM

No one gets my old numbers!!

Simian · 22 Dec 2007 at 07:39

JBod said:
This is why whenever I am changing contracts/numbers I always turn the old number into a PAYG and keep the SIM No one gets my old numbers!!

That doesn't always work!!.. My Mum had my old phone and SIM with the number converted to PAYG.. she didn't use it for about 18 months and Voda decided to re-allocate it to someone else with out prior noice!.. it was only when my Mum tried to use it (for an emergency!!) that she found this out!! :mad:

Dolph · 22 Dec 2007 at 07:48

Simian said:
That doesn't always work!!.. My Mum had my old phone and SIM with the number converted to PAYG.. she didn't use it for about 18 months and Voda decided to re-allocate it to someone else with out prior noice!.. it was only when my Mum tried to use it (for an emergency!!) that she found this out!!

It wouldn't have been without prior notice, the ability to terminate and reuse dormant numbers it outlined in the T&C's, along with the timescale associated with doing so.

So you did have notice of the conditions of keeping the number (or taking any PAYG number), assuming you actually read the terms of service. If you didn't, that's not the fault of Vodaphone...

VonClinkerhofen · 22 Dec 2007 at 12:39

Scot Mills did a thing on radio one where people who had celebs old numbers rang in with their stories. Someone had Paris Hiltons old number and kept getting phone calls asking where the party was?