********** my mobile number

I had an MTN contract number that I was paying , I later skipped a month without paying until I was told that my account was handed to legal. I was told my account was on arrears & then i need to pay an amount of R6500, I kept on making a communique with the company that was handling arrear account for MTN & paid that outstanding amount, I was even guaranteed that I will get my contract number back after making the final payment of which I have correspondence to that effect. Later on when I approached MTN for my number I was told that my number has been recycled, why was I not informed when my contract number was recycled, I was taken for a ride for the number that I was using for almost 20 years , that so unfair to be mistreated that they I had by MTN . Every time I called MTN I am told their legal department is not accessible by phone but by an email. I made serveral request but my efforts are in vain .