3 wont let me take my number

[jimmytbag]

So I have had the same number for 24 years. I ported my number to a new business i joined in february this year. I am now leaving the business and want my phone number back. 

The business intends to keep the phone and plan and have a new number which someone may then PAC their own number to.

3 are not allowing me to take my number and stating the entire contract has to be paid up and then the contract will be cancelled.

The business does not want to do this and have now not paid the last months bill. I cant request a pac code or anything and am about to lose my number i have had for 24 years.

Is this legal. the phone and the contract is 3 mobiles the number is my phone number i have owned for 24 years.

[jimmytbag]

Think its unacceptable that 3 now claim they own my number. I am about to lose my contact with all my friends family business acquaintances etc 

[KateS]

Hey @jimmytbag,

Unfortunately, as your employer is the named account holder, they now have control of the number and are the only ones able to obtain a PAC for the number. 

I sympathise with your situation and hope you're able to come to some sort of arrangement with your employer.

Kate

[jr0]

just to add, have a look into the steps that are necessary in the link below
https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/porting-your-mobile-phone-number/

and bear in mind the 1st step migh have to be done by someone in your company (as you are not the contract owner)

[jr0]

@jimmytbagI have been in similar position and I was explained that needs to be the contract owner to cancel or request to swap a number in order for you to get a PAC. If your company is not facilitanting such nothing 3 can do (as the contract is with your business/company).

When I had similar problem, it took some time and a lot of pushing for my company at the time to get the PAC to keep my number and take it to another network ( I think it was VF then I temporarily went to giffgaff and then I ended up in 3)

[jr0]

yeah I think Pete has a point.

It should be the business/company you work for provinding you with a away of you keeping your number (in the same way you ported the number when you joinned the business/company)
Maybe business/company could ask for a new sim card with a new number before you leave? In that way your current number is freed, but then you need to contact the original network/owner of the number, to request a pac and keep you number.
If you are not sure who is the owner of the number (can't blame you after 24 years) check ofcom numbering pages, numbers starting wih 07 (link below). all you need is to put/filter the first 4 or 5 digits of your number 7xxx

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for...

[PeteG]

Hello, Jimmy. 

It sounds like a tricky situation. Since the number was ported into a business account, the business have effectively become the owner of the number. The team can't provide you with a PAC, it would need to be requested by whoever is managing the business account. 

If they don't intend on requesting a PAC for you, the number would be lost when some one else ports their number over onto the account. I can't think of a way to work around for that except for to convince the business to go ahead with the PAC. I don't know if it's an option, but worth mentioning, you could offer to pay the early termination fee and see if the business would consider it then.

Pete.