Guide To Porting Phone Numbers

This article explains how you can create a service request to port local phone number(s) and how you can fix possible problems. It provides you with a list of common causes of a port rejection in the porting process and possible solutions.

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What is phone number porting?

Phone number porting is the process of transferring existing phone numbers from one service provider to another. If you are changing service providers and want to keep your existing phone number on your new account, you will want to port it to your new service provider. Porting phone numbers can take several weeks and there may be obstacles to overcome.

What are the advantages of porting my phone number?

When you port your phone number, you are essentially taking your current phone number and transferring it to a new service provider. This can be beneficial for a variety of reasons, including the ability to keep your phone number when you switch providers. Avoid having to update your contact information with everyone in your address book, and possibly even save money on your monthly bill. When you switch phone service providers for your business, porting your business phone number will ensure your business communications remain uninterrupted.

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In addition, porting your number can help to keep your identity secure by making it more difficult for someone to impersonate you, since they would need to know your phone number in order to do so. Overall, porting your phone number can provide a number of advantages and benefits that can be extremely helpful, especially if you are considering switching service providers and simply want to keep your current phone number.

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How to port local home or business phone numbers

Porting phone numbers is a simple process as long as you provide the correct details. To port your phone number, you will need to contact your new provider and ask them to initiate a transfer request. They will then submit port requests on your behalf. To get the porting process started, most providers will need specific account information such as the ones below, which you will need to obtain from your old provider.

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1) Current account number of the phone number you want to port

2) Full name of the owner of the phone number(s)

3) Service address or billing address

4) Copy of Bill (COB) or your monthly phone bill

5) PIN

6) Customer Service Record (CSR) - obtained from your previous carrier.

7) Your email address or best contact mobile number

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If all the information you provide is correct, transferring your phone number to your new carrier will be a walk in the park. Your provider may need to contact you by email, text messages, or call to get additional info or provide status regarding the porting process. So, keep your lines open for any messages from your new provider while the number porting process is ongoing.

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What are the possible reasons my porting request is getting rejected?

If your port request has been rejected, don't despair! There are a few things you can do to get your porting request to go through. While these obstacles can delay the whole porting process, your new phone service provider can provide you with a temporary phone number while working on resolving the issues. You can also ask your old service provider to forward calls to your temporary number so that all your contacts can still dial the same number, and you'll still receive them.

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Below are the common reasons for port rejection and how to solve them.

1) Info mismatch: To port your phone number, all the information you provide to your new provider must match exactly what the old provider has on their record. If one or more information doesn't match, the port request will get rejected.

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Solution: Contact the current provider to obtain all the necessary information based on their record and provide this information to your new provider. You also obtain a copy of the customer service record (CSR) to make things easier as this document contains all the needed information to port your phone number.

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2) You do not have the proper documentation: phone number porting requires you to provide some basic documentation. This includes proof of ownership of the existing phone number, your ID, and your contact information. If you do not have all of this information available, your port might be rejected.

Solution: Gather together all the required documentation from your existing service provider and submit them to your new provider.

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3) Your telephone number is not in your name: Number porting must be requested by the primary account holder. If you are not the primary account holder or the number is not registered under your name or you don't have the authority to port it, the request will be rejected.

Solution: Contact your current provider and have them transfer it into your name.

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4) You are not eligible for a port: There are a few reasons why you might not be eligible for a port. This includes having an outstanding balance on your current account or being in a contract with your current carrier.

Solution: Check with your current provider to see if there is anything you can do to become eligible for a port. They may ask you to settle your outstanding balances, or depending on your contract, they may need to charge you with early termination fees to resolve this. If your old provider is unreasonably giving you a hard time in porting your number, you may file a complaint with Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

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5) The number is not active: To port a number, it must remain active. If the number is no longer in service, the port will be rejected.

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Solution: Do not terminate your service with your existing service provider before initiating a new service with another provider. Contact the new provider to start the process of porting your number. If you've already deactivated your old number, you'll need to reactivate it with your previous carrier before reattempting to port it.

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6) The number is on a do not port list: There are a few reasons why a number might be on a do not port list. This includes being associated with a stolen device or being used for telemarketing purposes.

Solution: Contact your current carrier to see if the number can be removed from the do not port list. If not, your new provider can get you a new phone number.

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What happens when phone number porting completes?

Once your number has successfully transferred, you can now receive calls on your new phone. Remember, porting your phone numbers does not automatically close your account on your old provider, so do cancel your account with them if you no longer need their service to avoid additional charges.

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Number porting has been completed, but I'm still not receiving calls?

If you are still not receiving any calls after number porting has been completed, there are a few things you can try:

• Make sure your phone's cables are connected properly.
• Try rebooting all your devices (modem, router, phone adapter, and phone) for changes to take effect.
• Perform a VoIP speed test and make sure there are no issues related to your network.
• You may also need to contact your provider to make sure the ported number has been assigned to your device.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, this guide has expanded your knowledge of the number porting process and has helped you understand the reasons why your number port might be rejected and how to solve each problem. If you have any additional questions, please contact your new carrier for assistance.

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VoIPLy is one of the leading VoIP providers. Sign up and port your number today. You can check your local number portability with VoIPLy by entering your phone number below: