The phone number isn’t in my name. Can I still port it?

You were given a phone number.

The phone number is in someone else’s name with a different service provider.

You want to port the number to NumberBarn.

On the porting form, do you use your name or the name of the person on the existing account?

Check out these common scenarios below to learn exactly what steps to take.

2 Common Name Scenarios

Business Ownership Change

You just bought a local business. Congrats! The main business phone number is in the name of the original owner. You need to port the number to NumberBarn to use with Call Forwarding to your business phone system.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

  • Ask the original owner to provide you with the current account holder information from their existing provider. This includes the full account holder name, address, account number and PIN if applicable.
  • Ask the original owner for a recent copy of bill, dated within the last 30 business days to use as verification.*
  • Make sure the original owner keeps the number active with the existing provider for the duration of the port. If the number is canceled before you complete the ownership change, there is a chance you may lose the number.
  • When you submit your port to NumberBarn, enter the current account information (that of the original owner) on the porting details. Your NumberBarn account can have your personal information.
  • When the port completes from the existing provider to your NumberBarn account within 3 to 10 business days, the number will now be in your name.

Saving a Family Member’s Phone Number

You are the executor to your late mother’s estate. Her phone number of 50+ years is one that many people know. You want to hang on to that phone number and Park it with NumberBarn.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

  • If you do not have access into your mother’s phone number account, and do not have the account information currently on file, reach out to the existing provider and let them know you are the executor.
  • Make sure you have the full account holder name, address, account number and PIN if applicable.
  • When you submit your port to NumberBarn, enter the current account information (that of your mother) on the porting details. Your NumberBarn account can have your personal information.
    When the port completes from the existing provider to your NumberBarn account within 3 to 10 business days, the number will now be in your name.

NOTE: These two scenarios are legal ownership changes for your number. You must have permission from the legal owner to port the number to your name. Porting a number that does not belong to you is illegal.

Have another scenario to discuss with us? Contact our customer support.

We’re NumberBarn, we take phone numbers very seriously. But, we also like to have a little fun. To learn more about us, visit NumberBarn.com and follow us on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

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Written by

Jenny Dempsey

Jenny Dempsey is the Customer Experience Manager for NumberBarn