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Why Is My Number Not Eligible For Porting?

By: Author Jason Kendell

Why Is My Number Not Eligible For Porting?

Number porting is the process of switching from one mobile network carrier to another while retaining the existing phone number. 

Why is your phone number not eligible for porting? Why is your port request rejected?  How do you check the port status if you have made the number porting request? 

This article is going to explore all those questions. 

Why is my number port rejected?

Your number port could be rejected because of an unpaid balance/port fee to your current carrier, incorrect account PIN, invalid data like name and address, inactive/locked numbers, unauthorized port requests, or unportable numbers.

The three most common reasons for your number port being rejected can include an unpaid porting fee or balance to your current carrier, incorrect account PIN, and invalid data.

Find below more about each of those problems along with their solutions.

1. Unpaid porting fee or balance

If your current carrier asks for a porting fee that you haven’t paid or you have an outstanding balance with them, this will result in port rejection. 

Settle the unpaid fee or balance before making the porting request again.

2. Incorrect PIN

Your account with the current carrier has a PIN. The new carrier will ask for it to proceed with the number porting. If you provide an invalid PIN, the port request will be rejected.

Contact your current carrier and ask for your PIN. Make sure you provide the correct PIN to the new carrier to successfully port the number.

3. Incorrect data

Providing the new carrier with incorrect info like your name, address, and ZIP code will result in port rejection. This is because the new carrier will match the submitted data in your Letter of Authorization (LOA) with the current carrier’s Customer Service Record (CSR).

The LOA is a form that is used to authorize the number porting from one carrier to another. 

Even a small difference in data between the LOA and CSR will result in port rejection. 

If that happens, contact the current carrier to update your data and resubmit the Letter of Authorization (LOA) with accurate information.

4. Other reasons for port rejection

  • Your number is not active or in service with the current carrier or it’s allotted to a new user.
  • You attempt to port out a locked Google Voice number – e.g. if unused for more than 30 days or if you have mistakenly locked it. 
  • The new carrier doesn’t have a transfer agreement with the current carrier.
  • You are not the main account holder with the current carrier and did not make the porting request.
  • You have an unportable number e.g. very old number.
  • You are moving to a new geographic location  where you can’t keep the same number when changing carriers.

Why won’t AT&T let me port my number?

If AT&T won’t let you port your number to a new carrier, it could be due to one of the reasons below. We have also provided solutions to those problems.

  • You have provided the new carrier with incorrect info like account number and PIN: To solve this, provide the correct info.
  • Your AT&T number is not active (i.e. suspended or not in service): To solve this, first reactivate your number.
  • You have made more than one porting request through another carrier(s) for the same number: Cancel all requests and place a new porting request.

Can a carrier refuse to port a number?

According to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), your current carrier can’t turn down a porting request  including if you have an unpaid balance or unpaid termination fees.

Note that the porting of a number is the responsibility of the new carrier and you need to contact them to start the process.

If you meet all the requirements, such as your number being active, and you have provided your eligible 10-digit number and all the correct information such as account PIN, your old carrier can’t legally refuse to port the number to a new carrier.

If you are unable to port your number, you may have provided incorrect information or your phone number is not in service to be ported. See the earlier section “Why is my number port rejected” for other possible reasons. 

How to check if your phone number is eligible for porting?

How to check if your phone number is eligible for porting?

You can check if your current phone number is eligible for porting by visiting the official website of the mobile network carrier you want to transfer your number to. This is necessary before beginning the porting process. Here’s how: 

  1. Go to the eligibility check page of the carrier you want to switch to. The three major carriers are:
  1. Enter your 10-digit phone number. Some carriers also allow you to enter multiple numbers to check their eligibility at the same time.
  2. Fill in the CAPTCHA if asked
  3. Submit the request by clicking on “Check Eligibility”
  4. You will find out if your number is eligible for porting

By checking your phone number’s eligibility, nothing will happen to your current mobile network. It will remain the same until you initiate the porting process through the new carrier. 

Can I port my number if my service is suspended?

It’s not possible to port your number if your service is suspended. A suspended service is one where you can’t connect to a carrier’s network to exchange calls, text messages, and use mobile data. 

The porting process is generally quick. But, if your service is suspended, you must get it reactivated first or the porting process will fail. 

Note that in case your account is canceled (vs suspended), you no longer own the number and it’s returned to the carrier, so you can’t have it transferred to a new carrier.

How many times can you port a number?

You can port your number as many times as you want and to any carrier you want. However, you need to wait for at least the next working day after a successful porting to do another one. 

With Verizon, for example, the porting process to their network typically takes between 4 to 24 hours. Porting multiple times in a day is not recommended as it could take about 24 hours for a porting process to clear up.

Porting every few hours can create problems because the carriers’ systems might not be able to process the requests. 

Porting out and back into a carrier in a short period might alert them of possible fraud. 

Requesting multiple port attempts within 24 hours can also result in the risk of losing your number. Porting once or twice a month is fine and doesn’t pose any problems.

Porting your number to a new carrier isn’t irreversible. If you wish, you can port back to the old carrier or to another new one. 

How can you check your porting status?

If you have requested to port your number, you can check the porting status in 3 ways:

  1. Tap on the link in a text message from the new carrier

Your new carrier will send you a message that contains a link. Tapping on the link will redirect you to a webpage that shows the current port status.

  1. Check porting status online

Check the porting status online by visiting the “Check Status” page of your new carriers like Verizon or AT&T. Enter your phone number and tap “Check Status” to see the current status of the porting process. 

  1. Call the carrier’s porting department 

You can call your new carrier’s porting department on the numbers below, to find out the porting status:

  • Verizon: 1-888-844-7095
  • T-Mobile: 1-877-789-3106
  • AT&T: 1-888-898-7685

For other carriers, you can find their phone number on their official websites. 

Can I port my number myself?

You can request the number port yourself, if the number is eligible, after deciding which network carrier you would like to transfer your number to. However, the porting process itself will be carried out by the new carrier. 

Make sure you don’t cancel your service with your original mobile network provider before your number has been ported successfully. 

See the next section, “Can I port my number online” to find out more about porting your number conveniently online. 

Can I port my number online?

You can port your eligible number online whether it’s a mobile number, virtual number, landline, or toll-free number by visiting the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) webpage of your new carrier and following the instructions. 

When purchasing a phone plan online, you need to provide accurate information about your current account  and authorize the porting process to the new carrier.

This is a quick and convenient way to port your existing number to a new carrier. It is also a secure way as the information you provide is encrypted before being sent to the new carrier and locked in during the transfer process.