Q: What is Number Porting?
A: Number porting is the process of moving a number from one service provider to another.
Q: What type of information will you need in order to port my number?
A: The first thing you will need to provide is a Letter Of Authorization (LOA). This form is available at the bottom of the article.
In order to fill out this form you will need the following information:
- Company Name
- Current Service Address (as it is listed with your current carrier)
- Current Service Provider
- Number(s) to Port
- Billing Telephone Number (BTN) - This is the main billing number on your account that all of your numbers may be listed under. Please note that it is possible to have several different BTN's depending on how your account is set up.
- Printed name and signature of an authorized person on your account.
All of the information needed for filling out the LOA can be supplied by your current phone provider by requesting a Customer Service Record (CSR - customer service record).
In addition to the LOA, you will also need to submit a copy of your most recent bill (or preferably CSR) from your current phone provider. If submitting a bill it must be no older than 25 days.
Q: What type of numbers can I port?
A: You can port any local number, even wireless, as long as we have coverage for that particular rate center and it is eligible for porting. You can also port your toll free numbers.
Q: Is there a charge for porting?
A: Yes, there is a one-time $15 per number charge.
Q: How long does the port process take?
A: On average porting requests take 7-14 days to complete, however, it can take up to 30 days. Please keep in mind any type of change or rejection can delay this process. This is why it is so important to verify the Letter Of Authorization (LOA) information prior to submitting your request.
Note: The Firm Order Commitment date (FOC) is determined by the Losing Service Provider (LSP).
Q: What happens behind the scenes while my number is being ported?
A: After verifying your order, our processor will submit your port request with the information you provided on the Letter Of Authorization (LOA). If the request is accepted you will be issued an FOC date. If it is rejected, you will be provided with instructions on how to resolve the issue.
Note: Issuing of an FOC date does not guarantee the port will complete. The port can be rejected anytime up to and including that date if an issue is uncovered.
Once we have received a Firm Order Commitment (FOC) date, you will again be notified via email. Please keep in mind any changes made to a port request can extend the FOC date.
Q: What happens if my port request gets rejected?
A: In the event that we receive a rejection from the LSP, you will be notified via email and we will provide you with instructions on how to resolve the issue.
Q: How can I expedite my port request?
A: Unfortunately, it is very hard for us to expedite a port request. The reason for this is because we have no control over the Firm Order Commitment (FOC) date. This date is given by the Losing Service Provider (LSP) and the FCC mandates we can not port a number unless the LSP gives us permission to.
However, if you provide us the following information we will do everything we can to expedite the process from our side.
- Your current phone provider has to agree to let us port the number earlier than their standard interval.
- You would need to provide us the name, direct telephone number, and email address of someone that works in the porting department and has the authority to push the port through.
- As long as you can provide us with the above information, we will be able to contact your current phone provider and attempt to expedite your port request.
Q: Will I experience any downtime while my numbers are porting?
A: On the day of your port your numbers will cut over and move to our circuit. The actual porting time only takes a few minutes. You should not experience any downtime.
Q: When/How will I know my number has/have ported?
A: After your number has completed porting, our porting team will verify your number is working properly. Once we have verified faxes are completing on our network you will be notified via email that the port was a success.
Q: What are all of these acronyms: LOA, FOC, BTN, LSP, CSR, LSR?
LOA - Letter of Authorization. This is the form you will need to fill out when porting your number. This form gives us permission to request, on your behalf, to port your number to a different phone provider. Please contact your Account Manager if you need a copy of this.
FOC - Firm Order Commitment. This is the date that is issued by the Losing Service Provider (LSP) as to when a phone provider can port a number. This date can only be issued by the LSP. The gaining phone provider has no control over what date is issued.
BTN - Billing Telephone Number. This is the main telephone number listed on your account. Depending on what type of account you have, you could have just one BTN or you could have several. When porting numbers you want to be sure to ask your current phone provider what the BTN(s) is/are for the number you wish to port.
LSP - Losing Service Provider. This is the service provider that your number is being ported away from.
CSR - Customer Service Record. Every carrier has a record that houses your number, address, and billing telephone number. This is the record that is used to verify your information during the porting process. Please note the information listed on the CSR may not be the same information listed on the billing portion of your account.
LSR - Local Service Request. This is the actual part of the order that the Losing Service Provider (LSP) will receive from the gaining phone provider. All of the information on this part of the order must match the LSP's Customer Service Record (CSR) in order for them to issue a Firm Order Commitment (FOC) date.
LOA FORM BELOW: