Ever port a number from Cingular?

[bhaney]

My wife and I would like to switch to Virgin Mobile's prepaid service when our (2-year, complete freaking RIP-OFF of a plan) is up in mid-November. Anyone got any tips for how best to go about this? I know you have to port prior to canceling, right? If you try to port the # before canceling, will Cingular consider that "breaking the contract" and stick us with some sort of penalty?

The ideal would be to get the new phones and have the #'s ported over just prior to the existing contract's expiration, then call and cancel the same day the contract ends so they don't try to shaft us with an extra month of service. Knowing our luck with customer service, this will not happen as planned....

Thanks,
-Brett.

 

[pmoa]

i have....it was terrible. CIngular wouldnt release my number to verizon and it took a good month to get my verizon phone working. CIngular kept trying to keep me and I wasnt having it. Overall it was teh sux0r

 

[dmurray14]

No, what you need to do is go straight to Virgin AFTER the contract is expired. Once you tell them that you want to port, they take care of the cancelling of the Cingular service. Do NOT try to port before your contract expires though, otherwise you will be hit with the early cancellation charge.

Dan

 

[imported_judge]

done it before.

Take your cingular bill and bring with you when you going to sign up for another sevice Like dmurray14 said dont't cancel your current cell phone service. Make sure that your new carrier cs put all of the information correctly. It can take as little as 24 hours to a month. It took me 2 days before my got transfered

 

[littlezipp]

The porting process is a very painless process, as long as you provide the person helping you with all the right information.
Ports only take 5 minutes when the rep has all the right info. If it takes anything over 4 hours, chances are it was your fault for not providing the correct information.
Cingular will not try to save you, in fact they are not allowed. Once a port out is started, they must let you go. Whether under contract or not, ETF charged accordingly.

 

[bhaney]

Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. I found the FAQ on the FCC's site stating that the porting process begins the cancellation... didn't know that before this post!

I'll keep all this in mind when the time comes.

Thanks,
-Brett.

 

[T2T III]

I have. Cingular -> Sprint PCS. Painless process.