Received 2 replies from PM as follows:
”First of all, we are happy to know you just joined us.
Secondly, is strongly important to set up the right expectations and clarify how a wireless mobile service works.
- We are part of the Telus umbrella, however, even though we are under the same family, we are different companies, with different policies, procedures, promotions, plans, etc...
- When you activate a new Simcard, therefore a new account with any carrier, you cannot choose an old closed, inactivated, or canceled phone number, nor with the same company(which is not the case), nor even from a different company.
- Since you were not using that phone number for that long, that old account and phone number got closed, inactivated, canceled, and lost. Once this happens, the system will take that phone number back to be database of the company used to be with and make it available for a new user, BUT cannot be auto-assigned per request, which will be randomly assigned to anybody.”
but the second reply from a new agent was more optimistic, with:
”I understand your concern and I will try my best to help change the phone number. We'll need to make sure the number is still active with the old service provider in order to transfer it to our network. Although we are owned by Telus, the companies don't share the phone numbers and they can only be transferred through the porting protocol.
There is a chance the number is still available with Telus, so if they can reactivate the number just so we can send a port request then we may be able to bring it to our network.
For the transfer, please be aware that you may need the old sim card to approve the transfer through the confirmation text message that will be sent from them or you could ask them to pre-authorize the transfer and in this case, it will be done instantly. ”
A bit uncertain where to go from here - I responded to the second agent and will go with that plan to wait for the agent to contact Telus and try to port it (on my behalf?). If not I’ll take the slower route of reactivating it myself through Telus and porting manually. I don’t have the SIM card anymore (I don’t think it would be useful anyways since the accounts deactivated but I can call Telus to try to approve it if possible…).
If you have any thoughts or suggestions, let me know! Thanks!
