Comment by Semaphor
3 years ago
> Up to relatively recently (a few years ago) it was not possible to transfer numbers from one provider to another.
Huh, I guess I got lucky staying with Viag Interkom and then O2 (which was an automatic switch when O2 bought them) for so long, I only really switched providers in 2020 which was long after the EU regulation was in effect.
Yes, I remember that, although EU regulation was in effect, I still couldn't keep my number when switching from O2 to Tchibo (O2 reseller) because O2 did not allow that "for technical reasons".
I looked it up, the regulation was in effect since about 2006, but there was a loophole: It didn’t trigger if you switched from one provider to the same provider. And I guess that still counts when you switch from a reseller. That part has been changed later.
Thanks for the info. Good to know for the next time. Although, at the time they didn't say "we don't let you keep your number because we don't have to" but blamed it on "technical reasons".