Keep Your Cell Phone Number when Switching Companies

If you use a specific wireless carrier for your cell phone service, there may come a time where you will want to switch service to another carrier. This may because of lack of service, or maybe you just really like a particular phone another company provides. Whatever the reason, you will most likely want to keep the same number. Doing this will help avoid confusion by your contacts when you attempt to get in touch with them.

Go to a representative of the other company you want to switch your phone number to. Do this by going to a wireless provider's store near you. These can often be found inside malls or in shopping plazas. If your not sure of the whereabouts, check out your YellowPages. Tell them you want to start a new account but you wish to port the number over.

Sign up for service with the new company when you don't have much time left on your current contract. You can sign up for this contract while at the representative's building. You will be told of the different kinds of plans, the price and the amount of minutes you will be allotted. Settle on the plan and you will be asked for your billing information, as well as current phone number and social security number (so they can check your credit report to make sure you make your payments on time). The best time is to sign up a few days before the contract expires. You will be given a temporary phone number by the new carrier.

Go to your local current wireless carrier's store and tell them you will not be extending your contract and that you wish to cancel the service one the designated time period is over. If you would rather not go to the store you can call them with the toll free number listed at the top of your monthly bill.

Return back to the representative of the new company (in person) once your current contract has expired. You phone number will now be able to be ported over onto the new phone which houses your temporary phone number. They will need to handle the phone in person to run a few tests on the phone to make sure the number was ported correctly.

Do not wait until after your current contract expires before asking to port your number. Once your current number is no longer used by you, it returns into the rotation, so new members of the company may be given your old number. Once this happens you can not port your number over. This is why it is very important to tell the new company you want to keep your old number before the contract expires.