China Mobile (中国移动) criticised after user told to prepay ¥10,000 to transfer long‑held mobile number

Incident

It has been reported that a longtime mobile user encountered an unexpected and steep requirement when trying to transfer a number she had used for over 20 years. The user — identified on social media as Xia Xiaoyan — said the operator's retail outlet demanded a ¥10,000 pre‑deposit and a guaranteed monthly spend of ¥400 to complete a number transfer, even though the number had been registered to her ex‑husband and had long been linked to her bank and payment accounts. Why treat an established number like a brand‑new premium line?

Operator response and immediate outcome

China Mobile (中国移动) responded that premium “nice” numbers (靓号) are managed under new‑entry number standards after a transfer, and that customers choosing such numbers must pick the corresponding contract package, prepay the required deposit and sign an agreement. It has been reported that after the user threatened to complain to the carrier hotline 10086 and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT, 工信部), staff offered an alternative: lower the monthly package to ¥58 and cut the pre‑deposit to ¥200. That proposal, however, reportedly required managerial approval and could take until the following month to process.

Broader context and consumer concern

Special‑sequence numbers — repeated digits, sequential runs or overlapping patterns — are treated as scarce commercial assets by Chinese carriers and can carry large upfront costs. Consumers and rights advocates argue carriers are using internal rules to erect barriers to routine transfers, undermining users’ ability to control longstanding contact numbers that are often tied to financial and identity services. Many callers said the practice effectively forces users to either accept hefty fees or give up widely used numbers.

Regulatory and market implications

The dispute comes amid growing consumer scrutiny of telco practices in China and increased attention from regulators to fair access and transparency. For Western readers: transfers of long‑held numbers are a common pain point in markets where “premium” numbering is monetised; here, critics want clearer rules so commercial incentives do not block basic telecom services. It has been reported that consumers are urging China Mobile to adjust internal management of premium numbers to balance commercial value with protection of users’ legitimate rights.