New Member
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2 Messages
Change phone plan without changing my phone number
Hi,
I was at an AT&T store to switch my plan from pre-paid to a post-paid contract plan. One of the reps at the store informed me that my phone number must change as part of the switching process. I can't even quantify the amount of disruption that changing my phone number will cause. As relates to updating family, friends, business contacts and online accounts, this will be a significant life event that I'm not ready to deal with at the moment.
Has anyone had success with switching plans and retaining their phone number? Otherwise, I'm considering abandoning this pre-paid to post-paid migration all together.
Any help and thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks!
formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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113.6K Messages
11 months ago
The person in the store lied to you they're just trying to pad their statistics. Adding a new number to postpaid puts money in their pocket.
If the store was an authorized retailer they frequently don't want to deal with Prepaid.
You may need to locate a corporate store to have the migrate you from prepaid postpaid.
If they give you any trouble and If you're up for the confrontation, tell the salesperson, "you're going to get credit for selling me a new phone on a 36-month installment, you don't get to double dip by forcing me onto a new phone number as well. I know you can do it. Or I could just switch my number to T-Mobile... "
The FCC allows all customers to keep their phone numbers. Most service providers make it a little difficult to switch between prepaid and postpaid because it's not a standard port it is a migration which usually requires it being done in a store. But they absolutely can do it
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H_Factor
New Member
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2 Messages
11 months ago
Thanks so much for the detailed guidance on dealing with this ordeal, this is great info! It's been a surprisingly difficult situation- thinking that I have to let go of my current phone number unexpectedly...
I will follow your recommendations and hopefully have this issue resolved with them. Otherwise, I'll have to switch to another carrier.
Much appreciated!
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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113.6K Messages
11 months ago
You absolutely do not have to give up your phone number. This tactic by service providers is very inappropriate and they need to be called out on it.
Hopefully the next Store employee you deal with will have a more positive attitude.
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.7K Messages
11 months ago
As noted, you don’t have to give up your number but a store may not be able to move your number to postpaid if your number is from a different market. Cross market transfers are apparently very restricted. If that’s the reason a store can’t move the number, that would require going to a store within the market area of your number. You may have no choice than to port your number.
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