What Is Porting Numbers and How Is It Done?
Not so long ago, long-distance communication would require a hardwired phone line and often come with a significant monthly bill. These days, however, it’s possible to take advantage of internet telephony that allows you to place voice calls and use other voice messaging applications by using the internet as your connection medium instead. If you’ve already taken advantage of this service, you will have your own phone number but might be thinking about switching to another provider. This process is known as “porting” your number, and there is a certain process involved. So, what is porting a phone number? In this article, we will learn more about porting numbers. We'll also find out how to port your number with all the relevant information and how long it takes to complete the process.
Porting Numbers for VoIP
For a business, a phone number is an important asset. Customers may place it on speed dial so they can get in touch with you quickly, and the number may be published as a recognizable way to get in touch with you. As such, continuity is crucial, and this is why you need to learn about porting numbers.
So, how do I port my number?
The good news is that the FCC requiresinsists that providers allow you to port numbers so long as you stay within the same geographical area. And if you wonder what a geographical area is, it is also known as a “rate center” and would typically encompass a multitude of area codes. It’s the area used to calculate the boundaries for local calling rates, billing and phone number assignment.
Even though the FCC is quite clear about the matter, some providers may still be reluctant to allow number porting for VoIP. They think that users are more likely to stay and, of course, continue paying their bills if they make changing over difficult. Other companies may try to put additional barriers in your way by including a contract clause that prohibits you from moving the telephone number to a new provider. They may have tried to “sweeten” a deal and offered a cheaper tariff so long as that condition was included. If that’s the case, you need to consider your options, but it may still be possible to upgrade the plan to remove the restriction or pay a fine to carry on.
How to Port Your Number
To begin the process, get in touch with a new provider and tell them that you want to start the process of porting your number. They will ask you to fill out a letter of authorization covering them from a legal perspective. You will need to sign the document and send them the original.
The provider may also ask you to send them the bill from your current provider, together with proof of your identity (a driver’s license, for example) and proof of address (a utility bill).
If you’re doing this on behalf of your business (as a separate entity), make sure you are the authorized contact for the account. The details will need to match the information on your original account paperwork. So, if, for example, somebody else had opened the account in the past and they are no longer working for you, you need to get in touch with your current VoIP provider and get them to change the information on the account. Once you have done that, you can then proceed with the letter of authorization to the new provider.
You may also require a separate piece of information known as a PIN. Your existing company will have issued this information to you when you opened the account, but many people forget and may not even realize they need it. If you’re in this position, you need to get in touch with your existing provider and ask them to reconfirm your PIN. Of course, they won’t tell you on the phone and will insist on sending it to you via postal mail. This will inevitably take a few days, but make sure you have the PIN available before you begin the process of porting your number.
When the new provider gets your signed letter of authorization, it will create a “local service request.” It will then send this to their Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC), which is the body that actually controls your number. This body will then, in turn, send the application to the CLEC associated with your current provider. So long as there are no issues, the new CLEC will send back the “firm order commitment.” Once that is in place, the transfer can go ahead. Your new provider will be able to tell you when the number will be ported across to them.
Things You Should Know About Porting Your Number
Don’t be surprised if the outgoing company fights back. They may try to come up with an excuse so that their CLEC rejects the application. Often, they’ll find issues with the address, so it is important to ensure that your address on file (with the old company) is the same as your new application. Sometimes, carriers have two separate actresses for you – one will be the official address, and the other may be the mailing or billing address. You may not realize that this is the case, but double-check before you begin your application. If there is an anomaly, call the customer helpline and get them to change the official address on file. Alternatively, create a new letter of authorization using the “official” address on file and renew the process.
Many providers insist that you send a hard copy of the documentation and the authorization letter with your signature in ink. To make the process as smooth as possible, consider sending this by courier so that you can see exactly when the application arrived at their office. If time is of the essence, keep in touch with the provider regularly and make sure they send off the CLEC request as soon as possible.
Whatever you do, do not terminate the service with your existing company until you are sure that everything is okay with the application and your new provider has received the firm order commitment from their CLEC. If you were to terminate or even fail to pay the last bill for some reason and your number was disconnected, portability is then impossible. So, be careful to ensure that your current service is maintained until portability is complete.
However, if you are in a big hurry, you may be able to ask your VoIP provider to give you a temporary number. You can then configure the system to forward calls from your main phone number to your new service.
What other things should you know about porting a number?
You may be asked to pay a fee to port your number. Often, this is negotiable, and you can ask for it to be waived in return for your business.
Remember that it is not always possible to port a number if you are moving to a new geographic area.
If you have a number of phone numbers and extensions associated with your current account, you will need to give all of this information to your new provider.
Even if you have some outstanding balances with your current provider, the company is not allowed to use this information to block your port-out request. They cannot insist that you pay any termination fees before you go, either. However, you should still address any balances or fees, as they won’t simply disappear when you no longer have service with that organization.
People sometimes ask, “Can I port a VoIP number to Google Voice?” In this case, Google Voice will only accept a mobile number for porting, so you have to learn about porting a VoIP number to a cell phonecellphone first before you can proceed.
How Long Does Number Porting Take?
The FCC stipulates that a “simple” port should be processed in one business day. This will generally refer to requests that involve no more than one line. However, it may take longer than this, as the new provider needs to get in touch with their CLEC and they, in turn, with their own CLEC. You also have to consider the time it takes for your current provider to receive your letter of authorization.
How long does it take to port a VoIP number in the real world?
In the unusual event that the outgoing CLEC rejects the request, then the FCC clock will reset until an amended request is sent. So, to be safe, you should allow a few weeks but expect at least a week in most cases. And remember, while the FCC may have created the rule, they do not actively police it.
In Closing
As you can see, the process of porting a number involves several steps, but the motto here is: be prepared. Ensure that your information matches and that you can prove your identity. Send the application by courier and keep in touch with your new provider on a regular basis. All being well, your request to port your number should not take much time.
If you would like to find out more about VoIP systems, get in touch with SafeCall and check out our resourcesresource.