How to Keep Your Cell Phone Number When Changing Carriers

If you've had enough with your cell phone carrier, and believe it's time for a switch, you are not alone. Many are finding themselves in the same position with rates going sky high on some providers, while others are offering unlimited everything for as little as $40 per month.

However, you may be hesitant because you've had your cell phone number for the past decade, and would lose countless business if you changed it. The question is how can you maintain your phone number when changing companies. The reality is that doing so is fairly simple, and can be done in a matter of minutes. In order to help you maintain your precious cell number, there are a few steps you must take.

The first step is to determine whether or not you really want to keep the number. Many decide to keep the number out of comfort and habit, despite facing harassing phone calls everyday. Sometimes it is best to start fresh, and get a brand new number. However, others may find that maintaining the number is the only way that they can do business.

The second step is to decide what carrier you want to change to. In the United States, many customers are migrating on a daily basis. While the company you choose doesn't necessarily affect the port process, it is vital to know in order to avoid having to go through this process on multiple occasions.

The third step to consider is whether or not you want to port a cell phone number or a house phone to the new company. Porting a cell number is much easier and quicker than a house number, as that can take up to two weeks to fully process.

Once you have steps one through three figured out, the next step is to find one of your old carrier's bills. You will need to get the account number off of the bill, but it is generally recommended that you just bring the bill to the store when you want to go through this process.

After securing your account number, the next step is to determine whether or not your account has a password. You will need the password to port the number. You will also need to make sure that you are the account holder of the previous carrier's account, and If not, you will need to know their social security number.

Once you have all of this information, the final step is to pick out a phone on the new carrier, and go through the process. Porting a cell phone number can take as little as three minutes, but you must present all the information as instructed, or else the process can be prolonged. It is also important that you make sure that you give the cell phone salesman the correct number that you want to port, because an incorrect number can cause severe headaches.

Charley Brown has been a wireless industry insider for the last five years, specializing in Blackberries. He recommends the Blackberry Bold 2. Check out his review of the Blackberry Bold 2.

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