Problems with UK phone number when attempting to register for an Azure account

Darren Ross 21

I want to register for a free Azure account so I can evalute whether it is suitable for a blockchain project.

However, when entering any UK phone number - landline or mobile - into the registration form, I am informed either that I have entered a country code as part of the number, or that the number is an invalid format for the UK. Neither of these errors is correct - the numbers I have tried to enter are valid, UK numbers. The phone number is mandatory since the registration process requires you to respond either to a text message or phone call.

I can't even raise a ticket for this issue because you need an Azure account to raise a ticket.

So, any ideas as to how I can resolve this issue? Or even better, could Microsoft just fix this issue?

Many thanks.

kobulloc-MSFT 23,496 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-06-11T00:48:38.997+00:00

Hello, @Darren Ross !

We are set up to deal with technical problems and have limited options when it comes to account related issues but I'd like to see if there's something I can do to help. What format are you using for the phone number? Are you using something like 07911 123456 or 44 7911 123456?
Darren Ross 21 Reputation points

2022-06-11T18:25:17.707+00:00

I was instructed by the Microsoft Azure Twitter account to post here.
It isn't really an account issue - it is a technical issue preventing me from creating an account in the first place. There appears to be code operating on the Phone field that is using incorrect validation rules for UK telephone numbers, and reformatting the number I enter by introducing a space.
I tried entering my mobile phone number, which is in a format corresponding to the first example you show, but the field automatically places a space after the first 4 digits and informs me "Phone number may be invalid. Valid phone numbers for United Kingdom are between 7 and 10 digits long".
If I remove the leading zero, I get the error "Please do not enter country code in your phone number".
If I enter a landline number, I also get an error. This is of the format 0191 1234567
If I add the country code - 0044, 44 +44 - I also get an error.
I tried a different mobile number and got the same error.
If the initial error message is to be believed - no UK number can be over 10 digits long - then a hefty chunk of all UK landline and mobile numbers are invalid.
kobulloc-MSFT 23,496 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-06-11T18:53:28.647+00:00

@Darren Ross ,

It appears I'm seeing the same thing you are seeing, and I get the same errors when using the phone number for Microsoft customer service in UK (listed as +44 (0)344 800 2400 and (+44) 0344 800 2400 depending on where you look). I've tried a variety of combinations as well (dropping the 44, the 0, and trying different formats) all without any luck. I would agree, this appears to be an issue with the form.
Greg Aldridge 6 Reputation points

2022-06-24T08:56:27.11+00:00

Hi,

Does anyone know what is happening with this? I'm also needing to setup an Azure account and I'm getting the same problem!
Matthew Warren 41 Reputation points

2022-06-26T15:22:09.707+00:00

Same here, just came to try and sign up for Azure and it wont accept mobile or landline number, with or without country codes etc.. as described above!
Faiz Byputra 1 Reputation point

2023-01-02T03:00:57.24+00:00

It's not just in the UK. In Indonesia also. We never used the braces for phone number, but the form is forcing the braces to be there. So my number will not be valid
Faiz Byputra 1 Reputation point

2023-01-02T03:01:06.223+00:00

It's not just in the UK. In Indonesia also. We never used the braces for phone number, but the form is forcing the braces to be there. So my number will not be valid
Chris mccabe 0 Reputation points

2023-06-16T11:23:31.6233333+00:00

this is still broken
Tushigbayar Delgertuya 0 Reputation points

2023-08-28T02:02:17.6766667+00:00

(Edit) Australia has Leading 0 in number with prefix of +61 and still cant use leading 0 in the phone number hahahha please fix this asap

6 answers

Matthew Warren 41 Reputation points

2022-06-26T15:29:00.287+00:00

I did figure this out, but it does appear broken.

I had to select 'use a different number to verify my identity'

leave your mobile number without the leading zero in the 'broken' phone numberbox.

Once you hit 'use a different number to verify my identity' you can then select a country code and enter the same mobile number without the leading 0 into the second 'phone number' field.

Hit 'verify' 'Text Me'

Enter the text you receive, and the form then appears to validate correctly even with the original number in the original broken field.

I could then conitinue with the registration process
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7 people found this answer helpful.
Greg Aldridge 6 Reputation points

2022-06-27T06:47:15.243+00:00

Yeah, that worked. Thanks.

Shapeshifter 36 Reputation points

2022-10-09T22:02:44.327+00:00

thanks for the workaround.

main form still broken several months later.

David Marven 6 Reputation points

2022-11-21T05:57:11.377+00:00

Thank you MatthewWarren, this worked.

Note, it still gives the error in the second phone number box, but you ignore it and hit validate, and it'll send you a code.

Benan Renk 0 Reputation points

2023-02-03T21:02:29.96+00:00

Thank you, this seems to work for the time being

David Worton 0 Reputation points

2023-08-16T07:31:46.36+00:00

Can I add my thanks for this work around too. We are now in August 2023 and the form has still not been fixed. More than a year to roll out a fix for this. Unbelievable...
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Nick Dewhirst 16 Reputation points

2022-12-01T20:29:10.217+00:00

Good Evening All,

The answer is the following:-

+44 1234567890

Put a space after the +44 and drop the 0

Nick
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2 people found this answer helpful.
kobulloc-MSFT 23,496 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-12-01T22:41:31.603+00:00

Thank you for sharing this, @Nick Dewhirst !

Nick Dewhirst 16 Reputation points

2022-12-01T22:44:18.37+00:00

No problem at all, its unfortunate that the Tooltip for this isnt as clear as it could be. Its the little issues like this that can be the most infuriating :)
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Darren Ross 21 Reputation points

2022-06-12T13:15:39.15+00:00

Thanks for confirming that, much appreciated.

It's taken me several days and a couple of hours of effort just to get this far. Looks like I'll just have to find a platform other then Azure - it's simply impossible to register for Azure if you're in the UK (!!!)
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1 person found this answer helpful.
kobulloc-MSFT 23,496 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-07-15T04:15:41.473+00:00

@Darren Ross ,

I want to thank you again for bringing this to our attention. I tracked down the team that works on the registration page and we are using your feedback to help improve the experience in the future. For the time being, I've also included the information provided in these threads in a sticky which will hopefully help others. Thank you again for reporting this!

David Worton 0 Reputation points

2023-08-16T07:26:15.4066667+00:00

It's now mid August 2023. Over a year has passed and this very basic issue and surprisingly frustrating issue that is preventing potential users from the UK from getting started is still not fixed. One wonders if Microsoft even want business in the UK...
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R P 6 Reputation points

2022-12-22T15:32:01.883+00:00

Six months later, this is still broken...
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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Tayo Farai 1 Reputation point

2023-01-07T11:31:40.86+00:00

Still broken...
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Gunjan Goswami 0 Reputation points

2023-01-20T00:49:13.68+00:00

Hi...The answer is like Calgary phone no is +1 5874567899

in area code write 587 (Canada)

in phone no...4567899
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