On Wednesday, I found to my dismay that my SingTel mobile number I wanted to retain had been disconnected instead of being 'ported'.

My problems started when I was unable to select the number I wanted to retain on the StarHub website. I called StarHub customer service, and the agent noted my request manually and assured me he would submit my request. I have since made at least four or five follow-up calls to ask when porting would occur.

Imagine my horror when I was told that, due to an oversight, StarHub had cancelled my SingTel porting and returned my SingTel number to that telco. To get my number back, I have to wait for SingTel to release the number. I then have to ask SingTel for my old number, sign a new three-month contract with that telco and then pay to port the number back to StarHub.

If there was an error, I cannot understand why SingTel cannot release my number to StarHub. Even though StarHub said it will cover my additional SingTel subscription charges, this means I will have to hold two SIM cards - assuming I manage to get my old number back.

I would like to highlight that I paid for my SingTel number to be ported and it belongs to me contractually. The fact that we had a number portability exercise does not give StarHub the right to 'lose' my number.

I have had this number for over 10 years and this is causing me a lot of inconvenience.

Can the Infocomm Development Authority please advise?

Keu Heng Tat