MNP con - MTN

[jb007za]

I've just spoken to a rep at MTN. My mom took out a contract with MTN SP a few months ago. Her Cell C contract is over at the end of this month and she wants to port her 084 xxx xxxx (Cell C) number into her existing MTN contract (and therefore lose her MTN 073 xxx xxxx number). She is happy to pay the porting fee as she isn't really applying for a new contract. But, no, MTN says that she needs to either cancel the existing MTN contract - costing thousands of Rands - or take out a completely new contract in order to bring her 084 xxx xxxx number with her. What a scam? Any similar experiences?

 

[diabolus]

Well, i had no issues porting to MTN, but that doesn't quite sound part of the definition of "number porting" though... That's more like "account replacement" . I.e. going to ABSA and telling them to change your cheque account number to your FNB cheque account number so that all debit orders will still go off but at a different bank...

I'm not even sure you can change your number anywhere in the middle of your contract can you? Would be kinda convenient [i.e too many people calling you ..and then you just change the number ! ]

 

[jb007za]

Maybe I'm not being clear. Everything stays intact (contact duration, free minutes, monthly payment, etc.) - just want to replace the existing MTN number by 'porting' in the Cell C number. No other changes - just a number swop. And we are happy to pay the porting fee for this to happen.

Bearing in mind that the networks paid big bucks for the MNP system, we are trying to get some use out of it

 

[eremos]

Yeah, I don't see the problem with this. Porting happens like this:

1. Sign up with new provider
2. port number
3. cancel old subscription

what does it matter how much time elapses between 1 and 2?

Edit: If this was really an issue then surely prepaid users won't be allowed to port? It's not like they're giving any kind of guarantee that they'll be with MTN for the next 24 months.

 

[ld13]

My mom took out a contract with MTN SP a few months ago

ok,So your mom have a MTN contract that still needs to complete it's 12/24 month run. Your Number is locked into the contract and can thus not be changed.

This was not part of the MNP agreement and you'll have to cancel the contract in order to do what you want to do.

This is no 'SCAM'. What MTN told you is 100% within the rules.

MTN says that she needs to either cancel the existing MTN contract

But you can still port the number to MTN and leave the contract intact. You don’t need to cancel the MTN contract to port the 084 number.

 

[eremos]

ok,So your mom have a MTN contract that still needs to complete it's 12/24 month run. Your Number is locked into the contract and can thus not be changed.

This was not part of the MNP agreement and you'll have to cancel the contract in order to do what you want to do.

This is no 'SCAM'. What MTN told you is 100% within the rules.

But you can still port the number to MTN and leave the contract intact. You don’t need to cancel the MTN contract to port the 084 number.

You say MTN is right but then say the number can be ported - which is it?

Edit: You mean she can bring the number over onto a new contract but not an existing one? If that's the case it's ridiculous.

When I ported my number in the UK I did it as I described above. I had a virgin number, and I bought an Orange contract. I had an Orange number at that point and at no stage needed to tell them that I intended to port my old number. When I ported my number over from Virgin, I lost the Orange number. Exactly as jb007za described.

Does the contract say anything about the assigned number being locked into the contract jb007za?

 

[jb007za]

eremos, thanks for the support, great minds think alike

I'm very surprised that there isn't a general concensus on the issue. The fact that the networks (I assume Vodacom and Cell C have similar rules) don't allow you to do this isn't very customer friendly nor does it display a pro-competition stance.

As I said, we are prepared to pay the porting fee. For what reason is the existing number 'locked' into the contract. This is just because the networks says it should be so. In a truly competitive environment, this wouldn't be a problem.

It is completely unrealistic for us to cancel the MTN contract (at considerable expense) and sign a new one... just so that my mom can make use of the number porting service from Cell C to MTN.

Just out of interest, diabolus and ld13, which division of MTN do you work in Just joking!!!

 

[diabolus]

You say MTN is right but then say the number can be ported - which is it?

Edit: You mean she can bring the number over onto a new contract but not an existing one? If that's the case it's ridiculous.

Welll, i think there's one step in the process required here which i do not believe falls under MNP.

1. Cancel existing MTN number . This itself implies a "deletion" or "port" .
2. Porting the Cell-C number into the "slot" previously occupied by the MTN number.

The porting process [MNP] as far as i can tell only involves "releasing" a number at one place and "activating" it on another place. It doesn't include
REPLACING numbers .

Of course that would be a convenient "feature" if you could take your existing contract and simply change the number anytime you like [as in replacing the number with another number]. This is however [imho] not a MNP function but an internal "migration" function and limited to each operator's systems abilities.

To put it this way: Go to Cell-C or Vodacom and ask them to replace your current contract number, see how far you get. Don't even port, just tell them you want a new number...i would be suprised if anyone can do it WITHOUT cancelling your contract and recreating it.

 

[eremos]

Welll, i think there's one step in the process required here which i do not believe falls under MNP.

1. Cancel existing MTN number . This itself implies a "deletion" or "port" .
2. Porting the Cell-C number into the "slot" previously occupied by the MTN number.

The porting process [MNP] as far as i can tell only involves "releasing" a number at one place and "activating" it on another place. It doesn't include
REPLACING numbers .

Of course that would be a convenient "feature" if you could take your existing contract and simply change the number anytime you like [as in replacing the number with another number]. This is however [imho] not a MNP function but an internal "migration" function and limited to each operator's systems abilities.

To put it this way: Go to Cell-C or Vodacom and ask them to replace your current contract number, see how far you get. Don't even port, just tell them you want a new number...i would be suprised if anyone can do it WITHOUT cancelling your contract and recreating it.

So when you start a contract you have to explicitly state "I WILL PORT A NUMBER ONTO THIS CONTRACT" and you never get a temporary number until the old number is ported onto your account? And if you don't tell them this when you sign up you can't port your number?

 

[Skeptik]

I think you must have confused the MTN operator. Try and package your request in a simplere way. Start by porting the expired Cell-C contract number to MTN pre-paid so you don't lose it. Once that's done, tell them you don't need two numbers, but you prefer the pre-paid one - maybe you are getting nuisance calls (hint). Maybe this is not possible since the number is not 'MTN native', but it is worth a few exploritory enquiries.

As far as MTN 'scamming' you ... NO ... I think that's entirely incorrect. You just don't fit the usual MNP path.

 

[jb007za]

it's the principle

My understanding of number portability is the ability to "take your number with you". Nowhere have I seen advertised "For new contract customers only". This is where I believe the 'con' aspect creeps in - the networks aren't really telling us the whole truth.

There must be many users out there who have a (secondary) cellphone account with free minutes that they only really use for outgoing calls. Now, if I'm prepared to pay the porting fee, why can't I assign (port in) another number to that account?

From a technical perspective, is it really that difficult for a network to swop a number. Virgin Mobile did it for me. I originally got 0741###### and they then changed it to 0741MYNAME. And I am only a prepaid customer. If they can invest hundreds of millions in an inter-network porting system, this must be childs play. The will just isn't there and that's concerning.

Remember that number portability has been delayed numerous times. I expect action - no excuses. Now is not that time to start restricting the definition of MNP as far as possible. That's a Telkom tactic (ADSL resolutions) and darn annoying too!!!

What next... you can only port to prepaid if you load R1000 non-refundable airtime within 48 hours of porting OR you can only port into a non-discounted (i.e. full rate) contract package.

 

[YelloFever]

[email protected]

Good day,

Guys for MNP query's please email [email protected] Mobile Number Portability Port Support Team

Thanks MTNDD

 

[seven7seven]

I've just spoken to a rep at MTN. My mom took out a contract with MTN SP a few months ago. Her Cell C contract is over at the end of this month and she wants to port her 084 xxx xxxx (Cell C) number into her existing MTN contract (and therefore lose her MTN 073 xxx xxxx number). She is happy to pay the porting fee as she isn't really applying for a new contract. But, no, MTN says that she needs to either cancel the existing MTN contract - costing thousands of Rands - or take out a completely new contract in order to bring her 084 xxx xxxx number with her. What a scam? Any similar experiences?

Sorry to revive an old thread, but jb007za did you eventually succeed? I'm trying to do the same thing but porting into a Vodacom contract.