Keeping your phone number when you move

Your number can come with you

The FCC's consumer guide says that if you switch phone companies and stay in the same area, you can keep your phone number. This is called porting, and it works between landline, internet and mobile services.

Moving house does not have to change a number either. A mobile or internet phone number is not tied to a street address, so it keeps working after a move as long as you keep the same service.

Source: FCC: porting, keeping your phone number when you change providers

How a transfer starts

The new phone company starts the transfer. You contact the new company and give it your ten-digit number and any other information it needs.

Do not cancel your old service before the new service is set up. Before you start, read your current contract for early termination fees or a balance you still owe.

Source: FCC: porting, keeping your phone number when you change providers

How long it takes, and fees

FCC rules require simple ports, which generally involve one line and no complex changes to switching equipment, to be processed in one business day. Between mobile services the number may work on the new phone within a few hours; moving a landline number to a mobile phone can take a few days.

Phone companies may charge a fee to port a number, and the FCC notes that you can ask whether it can be waived or negotiated. Once you have asked a new company for service, your old company cannot refuse to port the number because you owe it money.

Source: FCC: porting, keeping your phone number when you change providers

Moving to a new area

The simplest way to keep a number through a move is to keep the service it is on. A mobile or internet number keeps working in the new city, and you can decide about changing service once you are settled.

Buying a number for the new city

If you are moving a business, a number in the new city's area code gives customers there a local number to call, while you keep the old number for the customers you already have. The numbers listed on this site are sold by Exclusive Digits.

Portable to Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and all major US carriers. After checkout you receive the account number and transfer PIN the carrier asks for. The carrier controls how long the transfer takes and may charge its own service or transfer fees.

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