Common Number Porting Issues With Their Solutions

Switching a number may seem like a chaotic process, filled with delays and mistakes, but it’s actually a fairly straightforward process. 😀As long as you choose a reliable service provider, it makes your work easier.

To make things even easier, in this article, we’ve discussed the top 12 number porting problems and offered professional solutions. Whether with delays, rejections, or technical difficulties, with these probable solutions, you can ease your worries.

So, to know about what you need to know about number porting and solutions for your telecom problems, let’s dive into it. 🎉

What is Number Porting?

Number porting is a telecommunication service that allows users to retain an existing phone number and transfer it to another provider. It is also called phone number portability. These activities are often seen when users switch providers. 

If you want to port your number, then there are 2 methods that you can use: full mobile number porting and local number porting. These both have their own slightly different functionalities.

Local number porting mostly involves a number porting that is highly relative to fixed lines. Full mobile number porting deals with the process of changing your mobile number with another service provider or upgrading your existing service.

Why Does Your Number Port Get Rejected?

The reason for rejection varies on many aspects, and it isn’t valid on only one basis. Typically, a failed port request is caused by mismatched data or account restrictions. Also, if your old provider denies your port request, due to inactivity or overdue payment, it can also serve a reason for rejection.

Additionally, other reasons can include someone trying to port your number without your permission, your PIN or password being invalid, or your number being temporarily locked.

Also read 👉How to port Freedom Mobile phone numbers to KrispCall?

What are The Benefits Of Porting a Number?

Without a doubt, this process has become a desirable choice for both individuals and businesses who are looking to keep their number when switching providers. Perhaps one of the most notable benefits is the convenience it provides. Also, number porting enables you to take your familiar contacts along. So, let’s discuss a few:

• Convenience: You get to keep your existing phone number, which saves you the hassle of updating all your contacts, business associates, family and friends. This can be a real-time saver, especially if you’ve had your number for a long time.

• Choice:  Number portability allows you to switch phone providers without being tied down by your phone number. This gives you the freedom to find a provider that offers better rates, better coverage, or features that are more important to you.

• Continuity: Moreover, it allows your team to maintain continuity in communication, which is crucial, particularly for businesses. By doing this, a consistent branding effort can be ensured, and customer relationships can be preserved.

By transferring your number, you will not have to update your marketing materials or set up call forwarding from an old number to a new one, which can save you valuable time and money.

Take a look at 👀 The Scopes & Challenges of Business Phone Number Porting

12 Common Number Porting Issues & How to Solve them

Transferring your phone can seem easy, but it is not always. It comes with many complications and issues in many ways. With that in mind, here are some common problems with solutions so that you can consider these points and avoid issues.

1. Incorrect PIN or Password

You need a PIN number to use VoIP services or carriers. Like your debit or credit card PIN number, it serves as an additional security measure for authenticating customers’ requests. If your PIN number is incorrect, your request will be rejected. 

Some providers require a PIN or password to authenticate and approve the porting request. By submitting the correct PIN, you can ensure that the request was submitted by an authorized account holder.

Solution: Make sure your PIN number is accurate before submitting your request by asking your current provider for it.

Note:  If you have a local number in the US, you can find the porting/transfer PIN in your existing carrier’s dashboard. 

2. Incorrect Or Missing Documents

There are many ways in which a number porting rejection can be caused, even by the smallest discrepancy. It is crucial that you verify your personal information, account number, telephone number, address, and ZIP code.

Also, to ensure a smooth transition, make sure you provide your new provider with accurate information and documentation. This is needed in order to confirm that everything matches, this might include things like the Customer Service Record (CSR) of your old provider to be compared with your Letter of Authorization (LOA).

It further breaks into the following subsections:

• No Letter of Authorization (LOA) given: It is necessary to get a Letter of Authorization (LOA) in order to transfer your phone number. Make sure you’ve completed one and sent it in line with the directions provided by your new provider, which are typically accessible via their website or upon direct request.
• Loa Given But Not Executed: Your port request can be void if the LOA is not signed or there was no billing receipt given. Your billing receipt serves as evidence that you are the number’s owner. 

• Incorrect Billing Receipt: If you send an incorrect billing receipt, your porting request will not go through. Make sure the account and number you’re trying to port match the billing receipt you submit. 
• Incorrect Phone Number On Invoice: You also need to make sure the information of your phone number you wish to port to a different provider matches the one on your most recent bill from your existing provider. 
• Inconsistent LOA & Invoice Information: This can occur when a phone number is registered under the name of a different company or associate. To close this gap, you’ll need further paperwork, like a power of attorney or a letter of firm authorization.

Solution: Ask your current provider for all of it and research on your own as well to ensure it is accurate before submitting your request. 

3. Information Mismatch

An information mismatch occurs when contradictions arise between the customer’s information and the records held by either the current or new service provider.

In case any of your identifying details do not match- for example, your name, business name, address, account number, account telephone number (ATN), or business telephone number (BTN), you will need to provide other documentation to verify the corrections. 

Solution: Before making a porting request, check with your existing provider to ensure they have your information on file and that it is correct.

4. Partial Port/Migration Indicator

Generally, when a number is ported or migrated, only a portion of the number or the services associated with it is transferred. However, there are some scenarios in which a full port is needed. For this, on the port request, there is a migration indicator that tells us if you’re requesting a partial or full port.

And if there is a problem regarding the type of request, it can lead to poritng issues. For example: There are two possibilities: a partial port was requested, but numbers were left behind, or vice versa, thus causing it to be a partial port.

Solution: The request must be updated to a partial/full port, depending on the rejection. It is necessary to provide a new BTN if you intend on leaving numbers behind with your service provider, but porting the main number (the main number on the account).

5. Disconnected Phone Number

Having a disconnected phone number surely leads to number porting issues. It is not possible to port a phone number that has been disconnected, suspended, or inactive. For reactivation, you will need to contact your losing provider and ask them what caused the discontinuation of your service, such as an outstanding balance that needs to be settled.

It is also common for a service to be deactivated due to inactivity, violations of service terms, or a termination of a contract. Regardless, you must clear your balance or resume activity to prevent your old service providers from permanently deactivating your number so that you can port your phone number.

Solutions: If your circumstances change, such as an inactivity period or an alteration in the billing cycle, notify your provider of any changes to ensure your number is connected. Please request that your number be reactivated as soon as possible if you notice that it has been disconnected. 

6. Address Mismatch

As for this issue, your request mayu also not be processed because the address you provided does not match the one available on the losing provider’s records. In order to ensure that the order is accepted by most providers, the correct service/physical address must be entered rather than the billing address.

Solution: In order to resolve the mismatch, KrispCall will pull a record from one of its partner carriers. Obtain the appropriate information from the provider if they are unable to obtain the records. Your current phone provider must provide you with the correct address for your numbers if you plan to port them in EMEA or APAC.

⚡Disclaimer: It may be necessary to provide an address that matches the area code of the ported number in some countries in Europe and Asia. If this is not done, the port request will be rejected and will cause a delay.

You might be interested in 😀 How to Keep Phone Number When Moving Abroad?

7.  Locked Number

Number porting issues also occur if the number you want to port is locked to the service provider. And whether or not your number is blocked depends on how long you haven’t used it. It is also possible that you unknowingly enabled the lock feature. 

Another point is that it is also possible that some carriers may impose restrictions (locking) on porting for various reasons, such as outstanding balances or contractual obligations.

Solution: If you would like to unlock your number, you can disable the transfer lock, save the changes, and then resubmit your request by logging into your account or contacting the support of your current provider. They should help you with it. 

8. Signature From An Unauthorized Source

To submit a porting request, you must be the authorized account holder. If you are not the primary account holder, your request will be denied. 

If you want to continue with your request, you will have to notify your current provider and the new provider that you are the primary account holder and the records you have provided are correct.

Many porting issues can be caused by a misunderstanding of account permissions or a change in account management. For example, your manager might be in charge of managing the number under a business plan. Your manager would need to authorize the port request independently.

Solution: Verify you’re listed as an account holder or authorized manager with porting privileges by checking your account status online or contacting your service provider.

9. Not Completing Carrier Registration Before Porting Over

In an effort to reduce spam that their customers receive, large phone carriers have pushed for regulations. Before sending a number porting request, For some new carriers (especially VoIP providers), you might need to register for service before initiating the porting process.

However, due to emerging regulations, you may still experience temporary delays in porting requests sometimes, but registering minimizes that possibility.

Solution: Before porting a local phone number to a new provider, we suggest you complete this registration step and wait for your application to be approved.

10. Delays Hearing Back From Your Current Provider

A carrier must process a simple porting request within one business day under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which does not require changes to the telephone switching equipment or more than one line. Providers typically intentionally do this because they don’t want you to leave; some providers don’t prioritize requests despite FCC regulations.

You should know: A VoIP provider can usually port your number from a traditional cell phone carrier in 5-7 business days. During the porting process from a landline, it can take more than 24 hours to initiate and up to 12 business days to complete, but if it takes longer, feel free to contact your existing carrier.

Among other things, phone number porting from Dialpad to KrispCall is smoother, and KrispCall offers it for free, unlike other providers. 

11. Not Receiving An Authentication Code For Cell Numbers

To schedule a port out, certain mobile carriers send an SMS authentication code to their customers for verification. If you don’t receive it, contact your current provider for alternate verification methods. To fix these issues, you can look for common causes of not receiving a text notification, such as: 

• Your account is activated with SMS-blocking services
• Issues with the carrier’s network
• Numbers that are incorrect

If all of that doesn’t work, follow up with your carrier if you still haven’t received your code. Alternatively, you can set up a preapproval or call authentication with your current carrier. There are also some carriers that allow you to verify via email or a mobile app. 

12. Incorrect Billing Telephone Number (BTN)

Providing an incorrect billing telephone number can lead to the rejection of the porting request. An incorrect BTN can cause porting issues since it is the phone number associated with your account for billing purposes.  It is a must to provide the correct BTN/ATN to the provider on order to submit a port request.

That is needed since the new service provider will use the BTN to find the corresponding customer record and obtain all account details. And when the provider cannot pull up the account records using the BTN provided on order, they will reject the porting request.

Solution: To obtain the correct BTN, contact your service provider. If you are porting a telephone number to EMEA or APAC countries, you must ask your current phone service provider for the correct BTN (or Main Billing Number).

Easily Port Your Phone Number with KrispCall Today

It is not uncommon for traditional carriers to have complicated procedures, which can result in additional steps and a longer processing time. Through having a reliable service provider like KrispCall you can have systematic number porting function makes switching phone providers easy.

Not to mention, with its available advanced features like call routing, global calling, call forward, automatic call distribution, and interactive voice response(IVR), you can keep using the business number that your clients are already familiar with and rely on. Also, you don’t have to notify everyone about the change; KrispCall takes care of the transfer procedure.

Additionally, you can take advantage of KrispCall’s affordable price plans, advanced call features, and precise call quality. 

So, instead of being stuck with outdated phone service, you can switch to a more intelligent option where the process of porting a number is easy and free with KrispCall. Also, the KrispCall web or desktop app allows you to complete your request directly after you’ve confirmed that KrispCall is the right fit during a free demo.

To begin number porting, you can just visit the KrispCall website. 

Conclusion

Despite the numerous complications with number porting, there are solutions available. Whether your problems are related to timing, documentation, or technical difficulties you can resolve issues quickly. Furthermore, you should consider factors like incorrect billing telephone number, incorrect PIN, Not completing carrier registration before porting over, and so on. 

Hence, to can handle the porting process effectively and with confidence if you comprehend these challenges and put the appropriate plans into action. You can easily transfer your current business line with another seamlessly.

For a simpler process, you can go with KrispCall as it is a more reliable and efficient provider that offers advanced features that help to fulfill the necessity for your business. 

FAQs

What does Port Your Number mean?

Porting your number means transferring your existing phone number from your current service provider to a new one. Not to mention, this allows you to keep your familiar number even when you switch carriers.

What should I do when my porting number request is overdue?

If yours seems to be taking longer than expected,  it’s best to contact both your current and new service providers to inquire about the status of the porting process.  They can investigate the status and potentially identify any delays, such as incorrect information or outstanding balances.

Is it possible to port an inactive number?

In most cases, many carriers won’t allow porting for inactive numbers. So, you might need to reactivate the number with your old provider first, then initiate the porting process.

How long does it take to port a phone number?

Depending upon the service provider, it usually takes 5-10 business days or a few hours to complete.

• North America: If you are in North America, porting may take somewhere between 7 and 10 business days. In most cases, wireless numbers can be ported in 4 to 5 business days; landlines can be ported from major providers in 7 to 14 business days, and smaller providers in 10 to 21 business days (including Canada).
• Latin America: It may take up to 60 days for a port to be completed.
• APAC: It typically takes 10-12 weeks to port a server.
• EMEA: Typically, the porting process takes 60 days. There is a 30-day waiting period in the UK.

What types of phone numbers cannot be ported?

Certain types of numbers, such as toll-free numbers, virtual numbers, and numbers associated with specific services, may not be eligible for porting. It’s best to check with your service provider to confirm eligibility.

Does my current mobile service work during the porting process?

In most cases, there might be a brief service interruption during the switch, typically lasting from a few minutes to a few hours. So, it is best to confirm potential downtime with your new carrier.

Does it charge fees to port numbers to a new service provider?

While porting itself is usually free, some carriers might charge a fee for the process. It’s advisable to check with both your old and new providers about any potential fees.

Is it possible to cancel my number porting request after it starts?

Yes, depending on the stage of the porting process, you may be able to cancel your porting request. However, once the porting process is complete, it cannot be reversed.

Is every phone number portable?

No, not every phone number is portable. Landlines with bundled services (like internet) might have restrictions, and some new or temporary numbers might not be eligible. It’s best to check with your service provider to determine if your number is eligible for porting.

Arun Chaudhary

Arun is SEO Analyst at KrispCall. He has written in extensively in the field of cloud telephony and call center solutions.