How do you request a certain phone number?? Not 800 or toll free?

Question

I recently put my business in the phone book(private book) and they published the wrong number. The number has the correct area code, correct prefix, but the last four are wrong. The number is disconnected and never been hooked up. The phone company says you cant request 'vanity numbers'. They have to be assigned. HELP!!

Answer 1

get yourself a virtual number....most of the time you can choose the number....I use several from different States and Countries...!

some come with my current VoIP provider, some otheres are free!!

Answer 2

they CAN provide you with "vanity" numbers, i cant remember if they called it by that name or something else, but they are available, but they charge a fee for this service... its not an advertised thing that they do frequently, but, do you think most union halls who last 4 digits are the local # chose there local based on there phone number, or the other way around.... you need to call them back and speak to someone who knows what they are talking about over there.. if its verizon, keep going up the chain till you get to ivan...

Answer 3

The phone company should be able to assign you a new number, if that is what you want - for a fee.

Vanity numbers usually come in at a "premium" fee - assuming no one else is using the number(s) you want, but not all phone services will accommodate vanity numbers.

VoIP services are often an easy way to get numbers in any area code you like - and as many as you like.  Some call them virtual numbers, others call them DID's.  I prefer the term DID (direct inbound dialing number).  VoIP services don't always offer "vanity" numbers, but usually provide a list of available DID numbers to choose from in the area code you prefer.

If you are not able to get a vanity number, you could check various VoIP service providers for numbers that they do provide and if you find a number you like subscribe to it.  But if you don't want VoIP service for your office, you can still get a DID you like from a VoIP service and have that DID "forwarded" to your regular business number.

Here is an interesting service that helps you convert words to numbers to help in your number search: