Think you just hit the gas pedal and your phone number receives a green light to be transferred from one provider to another?
Think again.
Transferring a number from one provider to another can be like cruising in a convertible on a warm spring day or it can be like driving a clunker with no A/C in rush hour traffic during a heat wave.
To ensure that you’re buckled up for a swift ride, check out the most 3 common speed bumps on the road to number transferring that might require a call to your current provider to verify:
Information Mismatch
When submitting your transfer, the information must match what is on file with your current provider.
- Your Name
Who is the account holder on file? Make sure that you know the name of the account holder, a business name if applicable, and the spelling of the names.
- Your Address
Did you move and forget to update your provider? Make sure to verify the address on file with your provider. This is also important for numbers that may be resold through a different carrier, such as Vonage or Twilio, and use their business address rather than your personal address.
- Your Account Number
Wireless numbers display the account number on the bill, however, some VoIP or landline numbers may not. If your account number is not readily available, be sure to check with your provider first. An account number isn’t always necessary, but it’s good to have handy just in case.
- Your PIN
Not sure if you have a PIN number? For wireless numbers, your PIN is usually your voicemail password. However, secondary PINs may be configured. Some non-wireless numbers also have PINs, which may be required to submit upon porting.
Service Bundle and/or Pending Orders
A service bundle usually contains internet and cable service. When you transfer your number away from the bundle, your provider may decline the initial port request causing a “pending order” and ask you what you’d like to do with your remaining service. Or, they may not ask you at all and on the day of transfer, your internet and cable are inaccessible. It’s always best to check with the provider first before transferring a number away from a bundled package. Pending orders can also refer to service or address changes on your account. The orders must be cleared before the number is transferrable.
Number Disconnected
If your number is not active, it cannot be ported. How do you know if your number is working? Give it a test call. If it goes to a disconnect message, you’re going to need to reactivate that line before you initiate your port.
When you “port in” or transfer your number from your current provider to NumberBarn, the number still belongs to you. We’re just taking care of it. Under the FCC’s “local number portability” (LNP) rules, you are legally able to keep your number when you move or change phone companies.
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 Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
