Can't port my number into Verizon

[awhigham15]

I currently have a Verizon account with one line of service as well as Verizon Home Internet because I get an ultra wideband signal at my house.  Many years ago my wife tried to port her number from a regional carrier in Iowa where the number originated.  Verizon would not port the number at the time, which I just accepted assuming it was due to some legal regulation of some sort.

Fast forward to 2024 and I'm trying this again with a bit more vigilance because I live in Nebraska, this is a work number, and I'm tired of traveling a few hours back to Iowa to deal with this phone plan.  Verizon maintains that because they do not technically provide service in the area where the number originated, they can't operate the number on their network.  This is a vague response that gives no detail as to what the technical restriction is preventing the number from operating.  I have contacted the FCC who said they have no restrictions preventing this.  I have contacted other major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular, etc.) who are all able to port the number despite having worse coverage at my home in Nebraska as well as the town in Iowa where the number originated.

My best guess is that Verizon doesn't want to take the time to create routes for some of these new numbers that haven't operated on their network.  I could be way off, but unfortunately I haven't been provided with any better explanation from them.  I completely understand that this is a rare case that may not be worth the time and effort for a company the size of Verizon to spend resources on, but I would appreciate a legitimate reason.

Typically Verizon has quality customer service.  I have had great experiences in the past, but this has been very frustrating.  I had a representative from the porting department tell me to purchase a new phone with a temporary number and he would do the port after the line of service was established.  He gave me his direct line and all seemed great.  Then I setup the phone and have called him dozens of times across multiple weeks with no response and no way to leave a voicemail (mailbox is full).  I called again to the port center and the representative said the number could not be ported.  I submitted a ticket to the FCC who is not enforcing anything that would prevent the port.  The FCC forwarded the request to the Verizon corporate office who gave the response outlined above.

Additionally, Verizon's website (https://www.verizon.com/coverage-map/) claims to have 4G LTE coverage in the town where my number originated.  I'm not sure on the accuracy of the website, but cellmapper.net shows multiple Verizon towers operating in the town.  Whatever the case may be, the answer provided does not seem to align with whatever technical issues are preventing the number from operating on Verizon's network. 

It is safe to say that something as simple as retaining a work number to use on Verizon within their coverage area has been extremely difficult and I'm very close to moving all my service to another carrier with worse coverage due to this experience alone.

[SynthpopAddict]

Hi, I hope you and anyone else can see/reply to your thread since it got moved and there seems to be a glitch with it now.  A lot of times when you can't port in, there's a problem with the old carrier not releasing the number for some reason and you'd have to contact them to ask why your number is being held.  However, there is one major exception to "refusal to port" being illegal per the FCC: If you move to a different area which has different area codes porting may not be possible.  This happens with old-school POTS lines ("plain old telephone service" aka you plug a phone into a jack in a wall type of phone line).  And with the number in question being a work number (which are often landlines) based in Iowa and you trying to port it to Nebraska, makes me think this is the source of the problem?

See the FCC link below for more information; scroll to the bottom on the rare exception to being able to port freely:

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/porting-keeping-your-phone-number-when-you-change-providers

[awhigham15]

Thanks for the response.  I have contacted the other carrier who says they have no problem completing the number transfer if they get a request for it.  The issue has been that Verizon says they can't submit the request at all.  One reason for checking with T-Mobile, AT&T, and US Cellular was to make sure it wasn't an issue with the other carrier.  I haven't come across anyone other than Verizon who can't complete the port.

I did see that on the FCC website and that's why I submitted a request to them.  They have assured me that there isn't any regulation preventing this particular case.  They mentioned some issues going from POTS lines to wireless like you mentioned but this has always been a wireless number.

I did finally hear back from the Verizon representative who originally said he could port the number and he said he was going to do more investigation and get back to me because they are still saying they don't have a license in the area in Iowa where the number originated.  That might be legitimate, I just don't understand how they can operate their network there without a license but not accept a number from there so hopefully I'll get some clarity on that.

[SynthpopAddict]

You're welcome.  That's really weird.  Have you tried asking your old carrier what their number transfer request process is before talking to Verizon?  Maybe Verizon is sending the request through some means which the old carrier can't access.  Have no idea what the license thing has to do with moving your number.  Not sure how you've been contacting Verizon, but their Porting Department's number is 888-844-7095.  In my experience with calling, they can sure roll you around from one department to another and a bunch of the call center people seem confused...probably because the call center is overseas.  Good luck and hope you get it sorted out soon!

I guess there's always simply getting a new number if nothing else works, but that is a major hassle with having to update your website, social media, and otherwise telling everyone you know where to reach you.

[awhigham15]

I did talk to the old carrier about the transfer process.  From what I understand talking with the Verizon porting department, they can't even submit the request at all.  That 7095 number is the one I've been using but it does seem like they jump around a bit.

This is my wife's work number and I've made my best attempt at getting her to use a new number without any luck so I'm looking into all other options.  The only other thing I could think of is if Verizon was using some small carriers to build out their network 20 some years ago and entered into a contract where Verizon could use towers of the local carrier as long as they didn't steal customers (use their block of numbers).  If that's the case I feel like it's a pretty arbitrary restriction given the state of technology today.

[awhigham15]

Update: Verizon maintains that they do not own the geographic region where the number originated.  When I pressed the representative of the executive team for a more complete and detailed explanation I was told that none could be provided.  This is still very confusing to me when there are two Verizon towers operating in the area (eNB ID 948066 and eNB ID 948082 on cellmapper.net).  Also, the carrier where the number originated is partially owned by Verizon and operates on the Verizon network (FCC Limited Partnership Document).

It seems a little shady to me that there is an unwillingness to provide more detail.  I don't want to jump to conclusions, it just makes it appear as though Verizon is hiding something for whatever reason.  That being said, if anyone reading this has any more to offer on what might be going on here I'd love to know.  I'm pretty well resigned to the fact that Verizon will refuse to port my number and I may be headed to a new carrier, but it would put my mind at ease a bit if I could gain an understanding of why this is such a roadblock.

[SynthpopAddict]

IDK.  Maybe it's like you were saying earlier, the old carrier has some kind of agreement where they won't let go of numbers, or the number in question belongs to the part of the old carrier which Verizon doesn't own and has no rights to.  Haven't heard of such a situation before, but I guess you're going to have to try another carrier with porting the number.  Good luck.

[Ptherrien1028]

I have the same issue and have gotten to the.point that I will be.dropping Verizon after many years with both business and personal accounts.  AT&T will port my number so they will now.get all my business 

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello, Ptherrien1028. Help is here as we would never want to see you leave us. I have sent you a Private Message so that we can review the account for the port in question. 

-Natasha

[nar22]

I have also ran into this very frustrating problem. After spending many hours on the phone with verizon they have said they cannot port my wife's number over because of "not providing service in the original area" although they do. We will now be taking all of our lines over to AT and T because they can port the number over after being a long time customer. very disappointing.