can you port your phone number to a different person?

[JS80]

I've been paying my sister's phone for the last...5 years. She wants to switch to a different provider and take over the account. Is it possible to port your number to someone else?

 

[compuwiz1]

Yes

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I'll be like a brother to you if you pay my phone bill.

 

[GeekDrew]

IIRC, you'll need to open the account at the other company in your name, and then have her take ownership of the account. Or, have her take ownership of her line with the current company, and then port it.

 

[rudeguy]

Are you talking cellular?

All that matters on a port is that the company that is porting it in has all of your information. Once the number is ported into their system, they can attach whoever's name to it they want. That's assuming that the company you are going to knows what the hell they are doing. Chances are they don't. In that case you are going to have to have your sister assume the account and then do the port.

 

[Sasiki]

She'll just need to open the account with the new provider and give them the account number and password to them to port the phone number. You may need to be present as well since it is in your name.

 

[Tobolo]

Sure! It's not that hard at all. But you might need to be present to switch it.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: Sasiki
She'll just need to open the account with the new provider and give them the account number and password to them to port the phone number. You may need to be present as well since it is in your name.

This is not true.

When a port is submitted, everything has to match. The main things are:
Account holder
Billing Address
Account number (including PW) or social security number

You being present doesn't mean anything if the new provider can't submit a port request seperate from the new account creation. Sprint for example uses an GUI that won't let you just port in a phone number. Other providers use a seperate application that lets you port in the number as long as you have the proper information. Then they simply take the ported number and attach it to the account that they created.

You have to be really careful with porting. If they mess up one thing, the phone number goes into cool down for 6 months and it can't be retrieved. Its just gone.

 

[Joemonkey]

good question, remember that ebay auction for the 867-5309 number? the phone companies shut it down since they technically "own" the phone number itself...

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey
good question, remember that ebay auction for the 867-5309 number? the phone companies shut it down since they technically "own" the phone number itself...

Negative, you own your phone number now. Check out your bill...you are paying a fee for it every month.