Is there a law that allows you to keep your phone #?

Question

My family is moving to a different house in a nearby town. The town has the same area code, just a different zip code. For some reason verizon is not letting us keep the same phone number. We have moved different houses to different towns before and they've always let us. We have even switched phone companies and have always kept the same number. We live in NJ and I heard about a law that allows you to keep the number, anyone know?

Answer 1

The law you are referring to is in reference to LNP - Local Number Portability.  

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/NumberPortability...

The law is primarily focused on keeping your phone number when "changing carriers", within the "same local area".

The law now also applies to wireless services.

As you are "not changing carriers", then the law (to my knowledge) is not clear on this issue.  The law is not clear on the issue of moving and changing address.  As you probably moved to another telephone "exchange" area, Verizon probably doesn't want to mess with mixing any more exchange codes than they have to.

But, if you want to press the issue, you can try contacting the FCC and filing a complaint and see what their response is.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

Otherwise, your best bet may be to find a new carrier, in which case the LNP law requires porting of number from your existing carrier to the new carrier.  Most important is to remember to initiate request for LNP through your new carrier "before" you pull the plug on Verizon..... and, there will be a LNP fee to pay ($25-50 depending).

Answer 2

The network is not designed to have a phone number from one rate center transferred to another. When you call, your phone call is routed through the system, depending on the first three digits.

If you keep your number, you cant move too far away, because you will confuse the network.  Your calls wont work.

Answer 3

yes. for cell-phones and landline, but not for VoIP,,,,but they try very hard to port your number..

if you want to port a VoIP number, good luck with that, they dont have to do it..

Answer 4

just switch and go to tmobile