If we had to sum up this entire blog post into one word to answer this question, the word would be YES! We are going to show you how easy it is to transfer your family’s phone numbers to Twigby. You can transfer your phone number to Twigby thanks to Wireless Local Number Portability. That is quite the mouthful, so we’ll call it WLNP for short.
What is WLNP?
Wireless LNP is your ability as a customer to transfer your phone number to a new wireless phone service provider within the same local area. This rule was put in place by the Federal Communications Commission in 2003 to ensure cell phone customers could switch providers seamlessly.
What this means for you is that if you’re switching to a new wireless phone provider, you have the right to keep your phone number. Before this rule was in place, many people avoided switching providers because of the hassle of getting a new phone number had costs of its own such as losing touch with old friends, printing new business cards, etc. With Wireless LNP in place, you can keep your numbers when you find that your current plan is just not practical anymore.
When can I transfer my phone number?
If you need to, you can port out from any carrier at any time. “Port” is the industry term for transferring your phone number. Keep in mind that some contracts require you to pay an early termination fee, and you are liable for any balance that is left on the account (if applicable).
You can even transfer your landline number to a cell phone. Many people choose to do this with their home phone because they want to keep the number they’ve had for years, even if it doesn’t get as much use. You could save big by transferring the phone number to a basic Twigby phone. All of Twigby’s plans include caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, and voicemail for no additional charge.
How much does it cost to transfer my phone number?
The FCC doesn’t regulate fees for porting, so some wireless companies are known to charge a fee for transferring your phone number. At Twigby, it is completely fee-free to start service with an existing phone number. We know how important it is for you and your family to keep your phone numbers – no charges here!
Ready to transfer your number to Twigby? Here’s how to get started:
- Be sure to review your contract with your previous carrier (if you have one) to prepare yourself for any early termination fees that might occur if you port your number before the contract terms are up. (And then get excited about not having a contract with Twigby! We work hard every day to earn your business each month. You won’t find long-term contracts here!)
- One of the most important steps, is DO NOT TERMINATE YOUR SERVICE with your previous carrier before beginning a transfer! When your service is terminated, your phone number is released to that carrier. At this point, it can be assigned to a new customer in a matter of minutes. To ensure that your number stays yours, don’t cancel your plan until after the port is successfully completed.
- When signing up for service with Twigby, you are asked if you would like a new phone number or if you want to transfer your current phone number to Twigby.
- Once you choose that you want to transfer your number, you will enter your address where the number will be in use.
- Next, we will gather your information about your account with your previous carrier. This includes the phone number you are porting, your account number, the address on file, and your account PIN. (If you’re transferring your number from a landline, you will need to provide the last four numbers of your SSN.) If you’re unsure where to find information for your account/PIN, check out this list of references for different wireless providers.
- After all of your information is correctly entered and submitted, it’s all finished on your side! Just sit back and wait for an e-mail from us that will let you know we have successfully transferred your number.
- *If the port is unsuccessful, you will also receive an e-mail notification with information on how to update the request. Typos or incorrect PIN is most commonly the issue.
But what goes on behind the scenes? Funny that you might ask!
- Your port request is submitted to our team upon the activation of your phone. If you bring your own phone, the port request is received as soon as you submit it. If you purchased a phone from Twigby, it will happen once you receive your phone in the mail and complete our simple online activation.
- Your old carrier will receive the request to release your phone number. They then have up to 72 hours to respond. Typically, request-processing takes place early in the morning, but some carriers work into late afternoon processing port requests. If you are transferring your number from a landline, your request could take longer to process.
- Your old carrier will then either release the phone number to Twigby. If any information was incorrect, let us know that too (you will also be notified via e-mail as mentioned previously).
- When the port is successful, you will then activate your phone on Twigby’s network. For smartphones, this will be automatic when you turn the phone on. If not, visit this page with help for activation. For feature phones, the activation is very easy. Just visit our help desk, where you can find phone-specific guides.
It’s as simple as that. We look forward to having you as a Twigby customer and helping you save money each month on your wireless bill!