Call forwarding, or transferring your landline number to a cell phone, can be a convenient and cheaper way to receive calls to your home phone wherever you are.
As a customer of Cox, there are three ways to set up call forwarding without losing your number:
- Keep your landline phone, and forward calls from your landline to a cell phone
- Get rid of your landline phone, and forward calls from your landline number to a cell phone
- Transfer your landline number to a cell phone
With the first option, you’ll keep your landline and hence, the relationship with Cox.
However, the second two options allow you to cancel your landline contract, keep your number, and save money.
Additionally, forwarding calls with Cox can be expensive, complicated, and time-consuming.
You can continue to make and receive calls from your landline number while significantly reducing your monthly bill with Community Phone's landline transferring service.
We've helped more than 10,000 users transfer their landline number to their cell phones, without the headache.
Not all landline numbers can be parked or forwarded. Luckily, we can check for you.
Click on the button below to check if your landline number is eligible to transfer. It only takes a few seconds to get your results.
Keep Your Home Phone and Forward Calls to A Cell Phone
To set up call forwarding, you can either call a Cox Customer Service Representative, or you can do it yourself by following the detailed instructions in this article.
Call Cox Customer Service
In order to set up call forwarding through customer service, you will probably need your Account and PIN numbers, both of which you will find in the top right corner of your bill (as displayed in the picture below):
However, if you are not an account holder, or are trying to transfer a relative’s landline, you will need to reset the PIN.
Finding a bill would be your best option, since both the PIN number and the Account Number are on it. If you do not have the bill, then perhaps you’ll need the answer to the security question to access it.
If you’ve forgotten or do not know both, you will need to verify your identity by sending a picture ID to the local office or call a Cox Customer Service representative at 1 (800) 234-3993 and follow their instructions.
How to set up Call Forwarding with Cox
Cox call forwarding, readable voicemail, call blocking and three-way calling are free features that come with your (unlimited) home phone plan.
If you are a Cox Communications customer, you will have one of the two types of residential landline plans that Cox sells: local and unlimited
If you have the monthly landline plan with unlimited calls, then call forwarding is a free feature for you and you can read on to learn how to activate it yourself.
You can activate or deactivate Cox Communications call forwarding on you home phone by inputting the following codes:
All Call Forwarding
This feature allows you to have all incoming calls ring at an alternate number of your choosing.
To activate All Call Forwarding with Cox:
- Lift the receive, and dial *72
- Enter the forwarding number
- You’ll hear a stutter dial tone confirming the activation of your call forwarding, and then a regular dial tone indicating the feature is now working
To deactivate, simply dial *73, and listen for the confirmation.
Busy Call Forwarding
This feature allows you to forward all incoming calls to another number when your line is busy. Your calls will be forwarded to voicemail if the call goes unanswered.
To activate busy call forwarding with Cox:
- Lift the receiver, and dial *90
- After you hear a dial tone, enter the number you want your calls forwarded to
- When the phone is answered, your Call Forwarding – Busy will have been activated.
- If there is no answer, or the “forward-to” number is busy, hang up and repeat the entire process within two minutes. You will now hear a confirmation tone indicating the feature has been activated.
To deactivate dial *91, listen for the confirmation tone and hang up
Selective Call Forwarding
This feature lets you choose which callers can go through to your other number.
To activate selective call forwarding for Cox:
- Lift the receiver, and dial *63
- Follow the voice instructions to turn the feature on or off by pressing the number 3
Drawbacks to Cox Call Forwarding
Now that we have detailed the how tos of Cox’s call forwarding system, let’s discuss the common issues that arise when setting up call forwarding with Cox.
Call Blocking Services
Many people are reluctant to forward calls, worried that their cell phones will be bombarded with the telemarketers and robocalls they get on their landline.
Cox uses a free call filter service called Nomorobo which lets their customers get alerts when a call is likely spam, report unsolicited numbers, and automatically block robocalls based on their preferred level of risk. To set up your number with Nomorobo:
- Sign in to Cox VoiceTools
- Click the Settings tab
- Toggle Nomorobo/Simultaneous Ring to On
- Click Activate
- Agree to the Terms of Service and click Save
- Now go back to your Nomorobo account
Go to “Your Phone”. Next to your number there will be “Test”, click on it. Now click, “I’m Ready, Call Me Now”. You will receive a call, pick it up after three rings.
Steep Prices
Although you get some really good calling features with Cox Communications, there are financial drawbacks to buying the service.
Cox offers a basic home phone plan for $18.50, but you can only make limited calls, and do not have access to call forwarding or call blocking.
If you purchase their unlimited landline plan, you will have access to more features, but you will end up paying monthly charges starting at $32.99.
Retaining Call Forwarding
If, at any point you wish to cancel your landline service with Cox, you will no longer retain your call forwarding feature. It is a feature offered in association with your basic home phone plan and cannot be used separately. Simply put, no landline - no call forwarding.
Forward All Calls to an Existing Cell Phone & Cut the Cord
This option is not available through Cox.
Through Community Phone, the best landline home phone service in the United States, you can forward all incoming calls from your landline to your existing cell phone while discontinuing your landline service.
Once call forwarding has been safely and effectively set up (which will NOT affect the calls you are already receiving on your cell phone), we will help you end your current landline subscription.
With this option, you will safeguard your contacts, save yourself from the need of learning a new number, and reduce your monthly phone bill, all the while keeping the number you are comfortable with.
Transfer Your Landline Number A Cell Phone
Transferring your landline to a cell phone allows you to move your current landline number to a cell phone.
If you want to transfer your existing landline number to a new phone/cell phone, and then end your landline subscription, Community Phone can handle the entire process for you. The transfer plan will cost you only $20.00/month, or $32.00/month with a cell phone included.
Although Options 2 and 3 may appear similar (in that you cut the cord in both), they are quite different.
Through Option 2, you already own an existing cell phone number that you would like incoming calls from your landline forwarded to.
With option 3, you can use your current landline number as a new cell phone number. The added benefit of Option 3 is you get to keep all your contacts, but you don’t need to remember multiple numbers.
If you have a cell phone you are familiar and comfortable with, forwarding your calls with option 2 makes the most sense.
If you want your landline number on a cell phone and don’t have a cell phone, Option 3 is the way to go. Both of these Community Phone options will be much cheaper and easier than maintaining your current subscription with Cox.
For both Options 2 & 3, you can call us at 1-888-582-4177, or email us at help@communityphone.org and we will handle the entire process for you.