Orange-to-Orange number transfer: broken?

[arty]

My 12-month contract with Orange has just finished and I'd like to start a new one with a new handset but keep the same phone number. I've just decided on a handset and new contract on the Orange website but when I get to the 'transfer my number' page and choose Orange Pay-Monthly, it gives me this message:

Because you're already an Orange pay monthly customer you can change your phone and still keep your number by upgrading. See all upgrade phones

You may be charged an upgrade fee depending on how long you've been an Orange customer.

If you would like to continue without transferring your number, choose 'no' from the dropdown and press continue.

If I pressed Continue anyway it gives me an error saying

Because you're already an Orange pay monthly customer you can change your phone and still keep your number by upgrading.

Are they trying to block me from transferring my number to a new contract? I didn't have any problems with this a year ago

Any help welcome, thanks

arty

 

[arty]

You can't do that. As far as I'm aware, you've never been allowed to do that. New contracts offer phones at incredible discount to lure new customers in - if they offered you that every year, they'd go bust.

Only option is to upgrade and pay what Orange decide to charge you (based on how much money you've spent over the year), or get a PAC code and change network.

That's pretty odd; last year I changed contracts and phones from Orange -> Orange and kept my number without a problem. That time I negotiated it all over the phone, but they messed me around somewhat and I wanted to avoid some of that hassle this time round.

Unfortunately keeping my number is pretty essential as I give it out with business cards professionally. Anyone got any suggestions for good providers / places to get a W810i with ~200 minutes per month @ £25 per month?

arty

 

[arty]

You're online trying to set up a brand new connection, you can't transfer your existing number to a brand new connection.

What you want to do (and what you did last year) is a handset upgrade. This keeps the same number, gets you a new phone and signs you in to a new fixed term contract period.

Call them up and choose the upgrade option

I do want a handset upgrade, but I also want a different contract; the change of contract is more important, in fact. Last year when I rang there was no problem in transferring my number between contracts & handsets which is why I thought it'd be simple

As suggested I'm gonna give them a ring tomorrow when I have time. I'm sure I'll be able to sort something out - and, if not, there's always price-matching by another provider

arty

 

[arty]

You can change contract when you upgrade, that's no problem at all. Your number wouldn't have been switched between contracts and handsets, your talkplan would have been changed

Ah right, that makes sense. Sorry for being confused; I've had a busy week and my brain wasn't functioning properly last night

I've just got off the phone from Orange who offered me a 100 minutes / 100 texts / £25 p/m deal but with the W810i for £100, which I thought wasn't that great (£350 over 12 months!). I attempted some negotiation but was (politely) told that I was a Band 2 customer and not worth keeping, basically

So, if I move over to say O2 I'm assuming that I need to ring Orange again, cancel my contract & get a PAC code, then pass that PAC code onto O2. Orange want 30 days' notice so should I phone up today and set up my new phone / contract with O2 in 30 days' time, or can I use the PAC straight away and just have 1 extra month's bill from Orange?

Sorry for all the questions; I've not changed provider before Thanks again for everyone's help!

EDIT - Never mind, sorted it out myself. I've bought a new phone & contract and have the PAC code from Orange, who claim that once I pass my PAC to my new provider they will automatically cancel my Orange contract. Thanks for the assistance

arty