To think paying £102 to change to a “better” mobile number isn’t completely ridiculous?

[ThatJadeFawn]

Long story short, I’ve had my current number for years and there’s a bit of emotional baggage attached to it now due to family boundary issues / people having access to it who I don’t really want having access anymore (posted about the situation a few days ago).

I’d already been considering changing it, but every replacement number EE offered me felt worse than my current one, so I kept saying no.

Today they offered me a “gold/VIP” number with triple 7s in it that I genuinely really like and would actually prefer to my current number. Problem is, it costs £102.

I know logically it’s “just a phone number” but equally people keep numbers for years and years, and if I’m going to go through the faff of changing it, I almost feel like I’d rather do it properly and actually like the new number.

Part of me thinks “life’s short, just get the number you want.”

Another part thinks “£102 for digits is objectively insane.”

AIBU?

People pay money for all sorts of shit - if you want to just do it and don’t think about it again 🤷‍♀️

I don't understand why all of the other numbers feel worse to you? They're just numbers. You want to get rid of your current one so that people from the past cannot contact you - fine. But why are 'all' of the replacements offered worse? I don't understand that? I think VIP numbers are like vanity registration plates - if you have the cash and want to spend the money on it then fair enough, do what you like. I can think of better things to spend £100 on however.

Edited to add this disclaimer - unless the phone number or the reg plate relates to a business, that makes a lot more sense as it's brand building and memorable.

That's really not a high cost for a premium number. Go and Google "VIP" or "diamond" numbers and you'll see you got off quite well.

It is your money. Unless I had a business and the new number woul compliment it in some way I wouldn't pay that much.

I've had one mobile number my whole life. It will be 30 years later this year. Anyone I don't want to speak to and cannot respect my boundaries just get blocked.

Also, the weird bit for me is, how many people actually "remember" friend's mobile numbers these days?

You just put the number in once and forget it? It's not like the days where we had to memorise people's landlines or else take a small book of numbers with us?

YABU

It sounds like it will make a real difference to you and how you feel so yes I think it's money well spent. And you have your number a long time.

Just realised I posted from a different profile without meaning to but this is my post from a few days ago: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5528931-to-change-my-number-after-an-unwanted-family-ambush

That’s a thing?! I thought you just got the number assigned to the SIM card or by your provider and that was it.

I didn’t know there was a VIP list of numbers

Forgot to add; BUY THE NUMBER!

This

I am glad that I am not the only one who knows nothing about VIP numbers. I have had the same number for about 25 years though.

Not unreasonable to change your number.

I’d agree with you that it’s insane to spend that much on a new one when you can have a normal new one instead. What is it about the others that felt worse? They’re just numbers.

What’s a ‘gold/VIP’ number and what makes it so special to have?

Well, who even knew that this was a thing? I think mine would actually qualify as a VIP number, but it's just one assigned to me by BT Cellnet in about 2001! I do also have an email address that is just my name, no numbers etc like [email protected] (not that!) It pays to be nearly 50!

Id say buy the number if it means a lot to you, which clearly it does. People spend their money on all kinds of things. that others may consider trivial. Its your money. Mobile numbers are long and not easily remembered. So if the triple digit makes it easier for you why not.

It’s basically a number with a memorable/repetitive pattern in it (like repeated digits etc.) that networks classify as a “gold” or “VIP” number and charge extra for (there are even platinum numbers that people pay £1k/£2k/£3k for). Most replacement numbers they offered me were random and honestly worse than my current number but this one was the first one that actually felt like an upgrade rather than just different.

I got phones/SIMs in Tesco…they let me go through the box of SIMs and choose our numbers including 777 and 555…no extra charge.

I have just [email protected] too - benefit of being 47! I remember when Gmail was invitation only!

What is there to like or dislike about a phone number?! I have repeated digits in mine, didn't realise that was so desirable, maybe I will sell it!

Do it if you want, why not? People spend that much on a hairstyle or a meal out.

How can a random string of numbers feel WORSE than a number that undesirable people can reach you on and that has emotional baggage attached to it.?

Hoenstly it sounds like you're deflecting larger emotional issue and it won't work. Once you've got your TRIPLE 777 REPEAT NUMBER GOLD NUMBER and you've given it out a few times and no one has remarked on it and it works exactly as the old one did, you'll still have the emotional issues you have now.

I'd put the £100 towards a counsellor

I can understand wanting to change your number. I absolutely don’t understand wanting a ‘better’ number. No one has to remember your number, they just have to save it in their phone.

I need to check this detail; you requested a new number, they offered you one and you… you actually looked at the number, sat and had a think about it, then decided it wasn’t a good number and compared it to your old number. Is that right? That’s utterly insane. Who actually does that?

If you want a new number you just order one, and you get one and that’s that. The fact that they can charge £100 for a “good” one just shows that they’re taking the piss with it, because only idiots will go for that. And they can make money from idiots.

I mean it’s your money you can spend it whatever you like but genuinely cannot see the value in this. I could not tell you a single other persons mobile number, not even my DPs. They go in my phone and never see them again.

i guess maybe if you would find it easier to learn a repetitive number? But surely once you have learnt it it won’t matter?

If you want it and can afford it go for it, I don’t personally see the point as it’s just a number but I waste money on things others would find silly, so just make yourself happy!

I had a number that ended in 666 years ago and I loved it, was sad when I moved network and didn't realise I could transfer it. So I say get it!