Can't transfer number from Verizon

Question

Level 1

34 points

Can't transfer number from Verizon

I'm trying to transfer a Verizon number to use with my new iPhone, but I get a message during activation that the number cannot be transfered. When I called the "porting department" they tell me that the number is eligible to transfer, yet I am unable transfer it online. After several hours on the phone, no one in several departments at AT&T can figure this out. It's like there is some "switch" that needs to get flipped in some AT&T computer to enable this transfer to happen - but no one knows how to fix it! The last lady I spoke to actually told me that they're still working out the glitches with the iPhone activation process, and to call back tomorrow! Ridiculous!

A little background. The number in question was originally a Cingular number that was moved to AT&T back when the acquisition first happened. About a year ago, I moved the number to Verizon. Now I want to come back to AT&T to take advantage of the iPhone

Any ideas?

20 iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Jun 29, 2007 10:06 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 29, 2007 10:17 PM in response to Dean Cruse

Did you contact both AT&T's and Verizon's porting department?

I've been selling phones for a while and ports seem to most of the time be problems with the original carrier...

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Answer 2

Jun 29, 2007 10:31 PM in response to Dean Cruse

Dean:

I've had the same problem. I have a number on Verizon that was originally ported from AT&T and now I want to port it back and AT&T is saying Verizon is not allowing it. I called Verizon and they told me that all seemed to be fine on their end. I ended up just getting a new number and am going to try to port it later in the week when things have cooled down a bit.

My iPhone is activated (albeit with a new number) and it rocks! I'm just syncing it as we speak.

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Answer 3

Jun 29, 2007 11:23 PM in response to macguyincali

Sorry, off topic a bit, but... Cool, can you do that? Get a new number then port your old number later? I'm just a couple months from my Sprint contract expiring. I'd rather activate my iPhone now with a new number then port my Sprint number later.

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Answer 4

rhmusic

Level 1

0 points

Jun 29, 2007 11:42 PM in response to Dean Cruse

Man, i'm having the same problem here, too. I was told to activate the phone and use the "temporary" phone number until At&T can port my number over. 2 hours on the phone with both Verizon and AT&T.

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.10)

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.10)

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Answer 5

Jun 30, 2007 12:11 AM in response to Dean Cruse

I had the same problem, but this is my workaround:

1. Get a new number from AT&T
2. Enable call forwarding on your Verizon phone.

I did this, and now everyone who calls my Verizon phone will get me on my iPhone. I can hang with this to let everything cool down. Then I will port the number later.

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Answer 6

Dean Cruse Author

Level 1

34 points

Jun 30, 2007 10:05 AM in response to Dean Cruse

An update ... Bottom line - I think I'm in business now. Spent 70 minutes on the phone this morning with a WONDERFUL porting department rep at at&t - Sheila from Georgia - and here was what finally worked:

1. She verified that my old number was eligible for porting
2. We set up a new account and phone number thru iTunes
3. She initiated a porting request to replace the new number with my old number

I'm currently in some sort of dual mode, where my Verizon phone is still active, but the iPhone is now able to make and receive calls. She said to give it a couple hours and I should get an SMS telling me everything is complete.

If you still have this issue and can get Sheila in the porting department at 888.898.7685 (I know - good luck!), I highly recommend it. She's extremely helpful, courteous and she knows the drill!

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Answer 7

UTF

Level 1

5 points

Jun 30, 2007 10:08 AM in response to Dean Cruse

I activated my phone with a new number from AT&T and then called AT&T's porting department. They were able to take care of it within a few minutes. Make sure you have a copy of your Verizon bill with you when you call and give them the information exactly as it is on the bill. (I might be a bit over the top - but I even made sure to tell her there were two spaces instead of one between my state and zip code... neurotic, maybe... but it worked).

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