Return to Donor nightmare

I have been having a nightmare leaving Bulldog and returning to BT using 'Return to Donor'.

At first it seemed straight forward. I spoke with Customer Options at BT and put the wheels in motion. Unfortunately when the line transferred back to BT they had given me a new number (keeping my original number was the whole point in going to BT).

I phoned BT to sort this and got transferred to their India based Customer Services. They assured me that they could transfer my old number back in four working days. I called again on the day the number was supposed to transfer (yesterday) at 6pm. Again I was transferred to the Indian call centre who assured me the order was on the system and that it would happen by midnight.

Of course it didn't happen. Today I phoned again (again transferred to our friends on the sub-continent) and they now say that no such request was made. I again have made the request which this time is supposed to happen on friday which, to be honest, I just do not believe.

I have taken names of operators and order numbers etc but I just have no faith that the foreign call centre is capable of anything beyond selling you additional BT services.

This is maddening. Without the line -with the correct number- we can't proceed to order Broadband from O2. If BT fails again I expect we'll give up on the old line and just go with Virgin.

Can anyone suggest a way to communicate successfully with BT to resolve this?

cheers

Chezpayne

I had similar problems on my RTD, I gave up trying to get my old number back. Their Indian c/s kept saying that they would give me my old number back but each time I got a new number. I ended up making a complaint to the CEOs department, this was in order to get my other complaints resolved. BTs failure to correctly process my RTD cost me money (not too much but there is a principle here).

Be* Unlimited
Far too many computers, 1 Ducati M900, 1 Wife, 4 Cats and too many horses
+++ Out of Cheese Error. Redo From Start +++

'Still endeavoring to transfer my old number. BT Customer Service have now on 3 occasions promised to do this. When the day for switch comes they do change my number, but not back to my original one as requested. VERY FRUSTRATING!

After pursuing matter further with BT they now say that the number cannot be transferred because Bulldog/Pipex/Cable & Wireless own it and will not release it and that I should contact them to see what the problem is? I contacted Pipex who say my account with them is now closed and that there is nothing further they can do.

This is most annoying. I have had this number for over 12 years(it was originally a BT number) and also use it for business stationary etc. Many on this forum have followed the Return to Donor process successfully and I thought there would be no problem in retaining my number. If I'd known this would be the case I wouldn't have bothered with RTD and just gone with a new line with Virgin.

To make matters worse I requested a non listed number but now find myself plagued with nuisanse calls.

Chezpayne

I can understand your annoyance, I had my old number for around 18 years, and was registered with the TPS and got very few unwanted calls. The unwanted calls have increased with the new number and when I went to register it with the TPS I discovered that it already was. Of course it will be under the name and address of the old owner of that number.

One thing I have done is to get a 'phone with a built-in answering machine, the sales callers seem to hang up (I suppose they know that there is no chance of me calling back). I needed a new 'phone anyhow as the keypad was beginning to fail on the old one.

Good luck.

Be* Unlimited
Far too many computers, 1 Ducati M900, 1 Wife, 4 Cats and too many horses
+++ Out of Cheese Error. Redo From Start +++