10 Things You Must Know About Number Portability.

[EL PAALO]

This is supposedly a direct line to the number port center:
877 789 3106

However, it'll redirect to customer service if there's a long hold time which is always currently. :'(

[dodgerx88]

I tried to port my number over from Cingular. Mine wasn't possible according to Cingular because it was part of a family plan. I would have to port all the numbers over.

[rpfotog]

Originally posted by FridayInLove
I ported from AT&T to T-Mobile on 20th and not until this morning did i receive a msg telling it's ok. But I can only make phone calls outta the TM phone, all incoming calls are still directed to the AT&T one.

My port from Verizon to T-Mobile was completed on December 3 (took 22 hours) and I'm still unable to receive calls from my biggest client. A very big problem indeed. Thank the god of my parents' choice that someone over there called me on their mobile phone and told me about the problem. Seems the local phone network over there (Verizon...shocking, huh?) is routing the calles from that building into my cancelled Verizon account so they're getting a message that the number is no longer active. T-Mobile can't seemt to get it resolved, although they tell me it will clear up after a couple of months. They've seen it before.

As far as I know, there are no other locations that suffer from this problem when calling my phone, but I may never know the extent of the problem, or the jobs I've missed out on from people who couldn't contact me.

Rob

[catsonova]

ghaffar, I hope you are as patient as I was. I just had my old number ported over to T-mo from sprint and it took them over 3 weeks to get it done.

[amagab]

Unfortunately, due to lack of coverage in my new home, I am forced to switch from T-Mobile to Cingular. I do have one concern:

Does anyone know if Cingular will cover the penalty for breaking contract??

[crashnburn]

can you elaborate on how you did that ?

I have been using a T-mo number whose a/c is in the name of a friend. ( I have been paying for it through out etc.). I am an authorized user.
The contract for this one ended in November.

I basically want to order a phone/ new a/c online using
AMAZON or INTELENET so that I get a great deal on phone + rebates, but want to PULL out the "NUMBER" from the above account.

I know to get that number I could have done a change of responsibility ( adds one year contract, but doesnt have any BENEFITS, like free phone etc.)

HOW CAN I MAKE THIS HAPPEN ?

Pull the number out from one T-mobile a/c into another ? or How can I have the numbers of 2 a/cs swapped ?

Please do let me know.

Originally posted by silkkstyle
I ported tmobile to tmobile

[Jagraboz]

Originally posted by crashnburn


HOW CAN I MAKE THIS HAPPEN ?

Pull the number out from one T-mobile a/c into another ? or How can I have the numbers of 2 a/cs swapped ?

Please do let me know.

I don't think they would allow a "port" within the same provider, because then everyone would do that in order to take advantage of new activation rebates, etc, while keeping their number. If it is indeed possible, then would someone please discribe their experience?

[vinny09]

My gf and I want to get a family plan. She's got Cingular and I have T-Mobile. If we decide to go w/ T-Mobile, is it possible for me to port her number over to my account w/o changing the responsibility of her account to me? I thought I read somewhere about how that involves signing a new contract. This question is for direct or indirect dealers (since I assume you'd know for sure): If I'm currently on the $39.99 plan w/ T-Mobile (month to month), if I decided to get the $49.99 family plan on this account, would I qualify for a new phone at a new customer's price? (ie obviously the new line would need a new phone, but would I have to pay "upgrade" prices?) I realize that the best deal would to be just port one number, add a new line and both lines will get the new customer pricing.

[T-Scott]

You can't use the same phone unless you get it unlocked by the old service provider or buy the codes on eBay or find it somewhere. Alot of times if you talk to the right Customer Care Tech Rep they will give you the unlock code. Verizon Sprint and any other non-gsm phone will no way in hell work with t-mobile.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR EXISTING NUMBER DO NO DO NOT CANCEL YOUR SERVICE!!!!!!!! The account will automatically be canceled when the port is completed. If you do cancel that number is lost unless you restore service which usually requires a contract extension.

If you port to or from T-Mobile, you will NEVER see a cost for porting that number, unless you just started or are in the middle of another billing period with your previous carrier. Always smartest to transfer your number within the last week of your current bill cycle to avoid paying for service that you won't be using.

And it's taking close to a MONTH for landlines to switch to your cell phone . . . . . .

[mrbricklayer]

Vinny,

You can have anyones number transfer over to you account without it being a change of responsiblity. If you want to got to the fam plan, and you want the plan that offers the nights, it is a 1 year contract renweal from the day that you do it. It is this becuase that plan that has unlimited nights which is considered a 'promotional plan', which all promo plans require 1 yr cotnract renewal for existing customers

[j_binkley]

Here are just some updates on portability. Just noticed there hasn't been too many updates lately.

Wireless to Wireless Transfers-3 Hours to 3 days. Wireline to Wireless-Up to 90 days, and some cases longer. Make sure you contact your old service provider to find out the name, ssn, address, account # and password on your billing account. The password is NOT your voicemail password. Also make sure that your account is active (not suspended or cancelled) with the other provider.

Also, when you do set up your request to transfer your number into T-Mobile, call up to customer care to make sure they have a correct contact number for you listed on your T-Mobile billing account. Since I work for the NTC, I have made numerous calls where dealers are putting the customers contact # as the dealers contact #, or some of the older accounts, maybe you have changed a phone number once or twice. Call T-Mobile and update info regularly. Not updating this info will definately cause delays in transfers, and if T-Mobile cannot contact you regarding the transfer due to an incorrect or disconnected number, the port will eventually be cancelled.

There will be instances where your phone number may be owned by a carrier other than your current service provider. Ex. You have an account with Verizon, but your number is owned by Sprint PCS. This happens quite a bit. Sometimes, providers purchase numbers (blocks). The main database (NPAC) which stores all the information regarding mobile and wireline numbers in the US has never been updated to show some transactions. This does take some extra time and special handling to transfer these numbers over, since the main database needs to be updated to show the transactions.

"I want to transfer a number from Carrier A, who the account holder is Joe Smith and want to transfer this number to T-Mobile under my name John Smith". In this case, if you call to T-Mobile to attempt to initiate a request, the rep will advise you to go down to a T-Mobile dealer with the Carrier A billing account name and once the person who is on that account authorizes the transfer at the dealer (usually showing ID or written documents), the transfer can proceed.If dealers are submitting the request via Watson(in store activation system), they need to make sure all the correct info is on the request. Sometimes Watson will not put the account number, or will miss information on request.

Not all carriers work off of the same systems. This also can be a problem at times communicating between different systems. There are times where we will send a request to another carrier to get your number, and their system does not respond to us. Sometimes the other provider is not able to, and they have to file a ticket on their end to process the request.

"I am under contract for another 3 days with my other carrier, and I want to port my number" In this case, we would recommend waiting till your other provider contract is complete before transferring. I have dealt with alot of cases where the customer has been given a 3 day timeline, but the request gets done in 3 hours and they come screaming at T-Mobile. If you are concerned about your ETF (early termination fee) with the other carrier, do not port till your contract expires. T-Mobile will not credit the ETF for another provider account.

"I want to try T-Mobile service and see how it is in my area and transfer my number". Best thing to do here, is if you are a new T-Mobile customer wanting to try service, activate a regular T-Mobile number first during your 14 day trial period, see how the service is, if the service is what you are looking for, then transfer your number from another carrier. Transferring back and forth between carriers to get the "best deal" may cause you losing out on the end if your number gets lost in space, or being delayed for ??? amount of time.

When your port is approved for transfer at T-Mobile, you will receive a text message confirming your number is active on T-Mobile. There may be a period of 2-24 hours of dual service which you may encounter. Dual service is basically, your T-Mobile phone might be able to make calls only , and your Carrier A phone might be able to receive calls only. This is normal for the porting process, and usually dissapears in 24 hrs. If not, contact the NTC for further troubleshooting. This is just the NPAC (number portabilty administration center) updating the records of the transactions.

Pager numbers are not eligible for porting at all, so do not attempt to transfer your pager number because it will not happen. The FCC may in the future allow Pager numbers to be transferred, but not at the present time.

Any other questions relating to T-Mobile porting, ask and I will see if I can answer them.

Just an FYI......

[cowboy]

my ex port her # from AT&T to nextel and it took 2 weeks to port the #. well one way is cos she wanted to wait for the billing cycle is over. and its also cos one of our friends who worked in a cell store said AT&T can take up to 2 weeks to port out a #, but is it true? she said the wsp can hold the # up 2 weeks before they totally transfer it out.

[xtra]

I m new to t-mobile. can I port my number from Nextel after my t-mobile phone is activated? I ony used the services for a few days.

thanks

[convertturbo911]

Thats the same thing they told me when i was porting from verizon to tmobile but it took 2 days

[RhondaS]

I have been with T-Mobile for 6 1/2 years, and there has been times that we have went months without putting any minutes on our prepaid phone.And I recently added minutes to my phone, everything went through fine when entering your pass word and all, anyone with the prepaid phones plains know what I'M talking about.But after I added the minutes I realize I could not make a call so I called customer service and they check into everything and then the told me I was not the owner of this number and I could not figure out why after all I have had the same number for over 6 years, I was told after 90 days of not adding minutes to my phone it gave them the right to assigned the number to someone else. So needless to say I paid for someone else to use what use to be my number, I went to the local T-mobile store here in Columbus Georgia to find out why and how they could do this, and they gave me the same story even though I know I had went longer then 90 days before and it never cause a problem and the thing that gets me is I had no expiration date on my minutes at one time when I first bought My cell phone plain you had so many days to refill or you would lose your minutes unless you put some kind of refill on your phone. Needless to say they would not make this right they told me I had to purchase another phone plus buy a new number and if I done that they would give me the money in minutes that I purchase. I would like to know if legally if they can do this, I know in 6 1/2 years the company had been bought out 3 times and I had never sign a new contract or should I say I have never signed anything since the day I bought my phone and number, I was under the impression that once you bought the sim card that number was not to be giving back out to another phone because that was what a prepaid phone plain was. I lost my money & my phone number after all these years and I lost my gold membership. does anyone have any advice has this happen to anyone else?the worst part is that they would not fix the problem unless I put out more money which is not fair. Isn't a prepaid for people who don't want a montly bill and the pleasure of adding minutes when and if the choose?
God Bless
Sincerely RhondaS