Swap Numbers between two SIM cards

[graviti]

I recently upgraded my MTN Contract, and was moved from a voice package to a Data package. I soon realised that taking calls on my 10.1" tablet was a bit annoying. I would like to get a prepaid SIM card, and plug that into my old cell phone (Galaxy S2). Here comes the tricky bit. I don't want to send a message out to nearly 500 contacts, plus update details on a few dozen companies where they need my number, just to tell them I have a new number. It would be nice if MTN would allow me to swap the numbers between these two cards. So basically take the number from the prepaid card and apply it to my current data contract, and take the number from my data contract, and apply it to the prepaid card, so that I can keep the data contract in the tablet, and get my old number in my cell phone. (No messaging number to everyone, and can now receive calls on phone, and data is on tablet)

BUT

MTN do not offer this function. How hard can it really be to do this. Sheesh. Am I really asking you to do something that difficult? If I port my number, my contract is deemed cancelled, and it costs me like R9k. So that is out of the question. Why can't MTN get customer service right.

Anyone have any suggestions going forward?

 

[Rocket-Boy]

Have you not considered that to be an unreasonable request?
You can get a cell number changed on a contract but only with a police case for harassment and then it is a big hassle to do.
Swapping your number to pre-paid and then getting a new number for a contract because of a decision you made shouldnt be the network's problem.

 

[Chevron]

I'm also thinking this guy is expecting a bit much. It's not jsut swapping numbers. Because then you could just swap sim cards and be done. He wants a contract package moved.

 

[graviti]

I really don't understand the technical difficulty with it. I really can't see it being more than a change on a database for the number attached to the contract. From a cell routing point of view its as technically difficult as a Sim swap. It's just the billing which is attached to the number. Is their system so heavy/archaic/deepy rooted that it is going to be changed in more than one or two places.

Plus, I was told by the sales consultant that it could be done with ease before I renewed the contract, but today he tells me not possible, and that he never said it was. I was going to move to cellc, then he told me I could do this, so I took the deal. This is what annoys me about this country. Promise the world until the signature is there, then feign ignorance, or even just straight forward go back on your word.

 

[Milano]

Basically you want:
1. Your existing contract cell number to become prepaid.
2. Your contract to be issued a new number and simply continue as is but with that new number.
Correct?

Like this:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/534727-Am-I-being-unreasonable?highlight=

 

[graviti]

Basically you want:
1. Your existing contract cell number to become prepaid.
2. Your contract to be issued a new number and simply continue as is but with that new number.
Correct?

Like this:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/534727-Am-I-being-unreasonable?highlight=

Exactly that. Interesting that Chilligirl mentions that MTN do it, because MTN can't make their minds up whether they do our don't. That last bit was interesting, but when I suggested that to the MTN guys they said it would be treated as a cancellation by MTN. Does anyone know if there is an MTN Rep on the forums these days.

 

[Milano]

Exactly that. Interesting that Chilligirl mentions that MTN do it, because MTN can't make their minds up whether they do our don't. That last bit was interesting, but when I suggested that to the MTN guys they said it would be treated as a cancellation by MTN. Does anyone know if there is an MTN Rep on the forums these days.

Doubt he is here any longer, MTN don't even appear to have a rep on their own website:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...ree-times!?p=10594011&highlight=#post10594011

Vodacom didn't think they did it either. Yet in the end, I did successfully port the Vodacom contract number from Vodacom contract to CellC pre-paid. Vodacom assigned a new cell number to the Talk500 contract. They sometimes called it a dummy number, sometimes a pseudo number and sometimes a substitute number. It is a very typically warped process which involves a number of customer-to-staff training exercises, conflicting messages, time, patience, time, more patience. Absurd that the only way you can achieve it is by porting out. Even more weird is the emotional reaction of both the cell providers and general population, like "you are trying to defraud the cell SP!!1". It should be a simple admin/billing issue just the same way a number change is a optional service for a fee.

Yes, it was her post that got me onto the concept, so I'm sure MTN do it. Just a matter of finding someone at MTN who knows it too.

 

[Swa]

I also don't see how this an unreasonable request. He just wants the contract moved to a different number, something I'm sure their system is capable of, and was told it could be done.

This is why it's always best not to trust an SP before signing as they all promise and then when the time comes to do nobody knows how to do it. It could also be that he's confusing them as it sounds like he wants two numbers swapped between sim cards. Something that can be done on administrator level but isn't built into the system for security reasons. It also won't solve his problem and will cause a lot of hairy eyebrows to be raised.

 

[Grant]

It is a quick & easy process - if you contact the correct person.
Earlier this year I had a few numbers ported from MTN to CellC.
Somehow they allocated to incorrect numbers to 2 sim cards.

eg telephone number 1, was to be allocated to sim card A
and telephone number 2, was to be allocated to sim card B
They somehow got it the wrong way around !

I only noticed this on a saturday, I called on the monday and they swapped them over while I was on the phone to them.
However you are dealing with MTN.
In my 15 yrs with them, they proved to be somewhat less than helpful - hence the eventual move.

 

[10i]

BUT

MTN do not offer this function.

MTN will point out to you that the number on the contract you signed is the number that the 2 year contract will use. And, although they technically could help you, they probably won't. They might tell you to take out a data contract for the tablet (bring your own style) and put the contract SIM you already have in a phone.