Transferring your phone number to a different provider is not something you can do instantly. In most cases, it takes between 5-7 business days to port a phone number from one provider to another.
Number porting time depends on the complexity of the request, the type of number being ported, and your existing carrier. Due to vacations and network maintenance, telecom operators may also introduce porting block days.
We've helped thousands of users port their phone numbers without the headache. Not all phone numbers can be ported. Luckily, we can check for you.
Click on the button below to check if your phone number is eligible for porting. A real person will check if your number is eligible and it only takes a few minutes to get your results.****
How Long does it Take to Transfer a Phone Number?
Moving a phone number to a new carrier - Porting typically takes 5 - 7 days to complete, but sometimes it may take up to 4 weeks. The average porting time is different for each provider and is subject to how quickly your current provider can approve the phone number release.
Many countries have laws requiring telco providers to allow users to transfer their numbers to different service providers. However, telecom companies have found several ways of circumventing this rule.
Many companies make the porting process quite challenging when customers try to switch providers because of poor service, unhelpful support, indiscriminate price hikes, and hidden charges. Here is information on the average time taken by providers to transfer a number.
You can easily switch carriers to Community Phone through their unique, hand-held porting process in 3-5 business days without disrupting your service. Read on to learn more!
Transfer Your Phone Number to Community Phone
Community Phone has a unique hand-held porting process that ensures timely updates and quick porting in 3-5 business days without disrupting your service. Here’s how you can port your existing landline number to Community Phone:
1. Contact Community Phone
Talk to their landline/business specialist at 866-271-7804. When you state that you want to continue using your existing number, we will assign a dedicated representative to help you through the number porting process.
2. Check for Coverage
The rep will check coverage to ensure Community Phone covers your area before you sign up with them.
3. Authorize Porting
Once the rep confirms coverage, you can share the necessary information to port your number. Community Phone will need:
1. The phone number you want to port
2. Your name as it is with your old service provider
3. Account number from the previous provider
4. PIN from the previous provider
5. The billing address the previous provider has on file for you
6. A letter of authorization
The FCC has stringent rules for number porting. Until you produce the necessary paperwork, Community Phone won't be able to submit the port request to your current carrier.
4. Contact Your Old Provider
Contact your current provider and request them to port your number to Community Phone.
5. Wait For Porting to Complete.
Your dedicated rep will keep you updated if there are any challenges in the porting process. Alternatively, you can check the status by logging into your Community Phone user account on dashboard.communityphone.org.
6. Verify Porting Completion
Once Community Phone has completed porting, you will receive your landline base if you have opted for it. Install the landline base in 30 seconds per the manual's instructions, and test your phone to check if you can make and receive calls. Contact customer care if you have challenges.
7. Cancel Service With Your Old Provider
After verifying that your Community Phone service is active, you can call your old provider and cancel the service with them.
Transferring Your Landline Number to a Cell With Community Phone
Community Phone allows you to cut the cord with your current provider and transfer your landline number to an existing cell or a new cell phone. When you transfer your number to an existing cell, Community Phone will port your landline number and forward calls from the landline to your cell. This option allows you to ditch your landline and current provider.
If you want to get your landline number on a new cell phone, Community Phone will send out a SIM with the number to help you use your number on your cell. Here are the plan options for you at a glance:
What is Community Phone?
Community Phone is an innovative wireless landline phone service in the US, fighting to keep the landline alive. With nationwide carriers shutting down traditional landline service, per the recent FCC guidelines, and forcing customers into an expensive upgrade, Community Phone is the best alternative if you want to continue using your landline.
Enjoy unlimited nationwide calling, several outstanding calling features, and world-class support at affordable prices.
How Does It Work?
The Community Phone wireless landline base connects your phone to cell towers in your area, eliminating the need for internet or copper connections. The unique design of the landline base ensures clear voice quality and a reliable connection in rural and low-reception areas while covering 99% of the US.
You don’t need a technician to install your landline base. When you connect your phone to the base and power it on per instructions, it connects to cell towers in your area and gives you a dial tone in minutes. The 12-hour battery backup on the landline base allows you to stay connected even during power outages and blackouts.
Benefits of Switching to Community Phone
Some of the fantastic benefits of the Community Phone service are:
Unlimited nationwide calling: Stay in touch with loved ones, employees, customers or colleagues with unlimited minutes from Community Phone.
24/7 reliable customer care: Contact Community Phone customer care via phone, email, or chat and connect with a live rep in under a minute to resolve questions or concerns.
No internet required: The Community Phone landline base works off cell towers, eliminating the need for an internet connection.
Quick setup: The simple installation of the landline base helps you save time and money on technician-led installations.
Works during power outages: Stay connected during power outages and blackouts through the 12-hour battery backup.
Number choice: Choose from local, toll-free, and vanity numbers for yourself or your business when you signup with Community Phone.
Why is it Taking so Long to Port a Number?
You know the estimated time of it already, as we discussed earlier. However, there are still some factors that might impact the estimate of 4-5 days. Find out below:
1. Documentation errors
One of the main causes of port delays is a lack of required documents. Before the number is transferred, several necessary documents must be filled out. It's critical to deliver these documents to your provider as soon as possible due to FCC requirements.
2. Delaying tactics by carriers
The primary factor that can make the porting procedure take longer is the new provider not replying to your request for the transfer on time.
But this is a rare case, and there are genuine reasons for it. However, your current carrier may use tactics to delay the process as they don’t want to lose a consumer at any cost.
3. Number porting rejections
Sometimes mistakes happen, and they can be on your part too. For example, address mismatch, wrong business address, incorrect passcode, and missing documents. In this case, the carrier can reject your request.
Therefore, you must ensure that all the information you submit to your new provider is accurate, including the service address, billing phone number, and account holder's name.
4. Complex or category C number port
The majority of number ports are categorized as "simple ports," and if yours is one of these, the processing time will likely be very little. There can be delays if your number includes extra features like call groups, forwarding, or special voicemail services or is a C-category number.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I check porting status?
You have two ways to check it. If you try to check it online, visit the website of a relevant company such as Verizon, Community Phone, Vonage, T-Mobile, AT&T, etc. Navigate to the port status check page. Enter your phone number and get the status.
However, for offline confirmation, you must contact the operator's support team to whom you have ported your number.
2. Will I lose text messages when I switch carriers?
Definitely not. Switching cell phone carriers does not affect your message inbox. Since text messages are stored on the phone, you will never lose all of your texts while changing carriers.
3. Can a phone company refuse to give you a PAC Code?
Your supplier cannot refuse to issue a PAC if you have unpaid invoices or charges. Your final bill should include these fees once the port has been completed.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully, you now know how long it takes to port a number. However, keep in mind that it is a process that takes time, even if it is just a few hours, and you need to be prepared for everything.
So, contact the Community Phone. Our representative will quickly respond to the phone number release, offer you amazing services, and will be in touch throughout the process.