Locked in a low-quality toll-free service provider? Tired of paying high monthly bills? Want to add advanced call management features to your phone system? Thankfully, you’re not stuck with your provider.
With toll-free number porting, you can switch providers while keeping your number.
How?
Here’s an in-depth guide to everything you need to know about porting toll-free numbers to a new service.
Porting Toll-Free Numbers
Porting your toll-free number to a new service provider is a simple and quick process. You can switch providers to take advantage of a better and more reliable toll-free service. In this toll-free number porting guide, we will go over:
- What is Toll-Free Number Porting?
- Reasons to Port Your Toll-Free Number to Another Service
- How Does Number Porting Work?
- How Long Does it Take to Port a Toll-Free Number?
- Toll-Free Number Porting Requirements
- Potential Issues with Number Porting
- How to Port Your Toll-Free Number?
What is Toll-Free Number Porting?
Number porting is a cloud phone service solution that lets you move or port your number from one service to another. You can use number porting to switch from an old service provider to a new one while keeping the same phone number.
So, can toll-free numbers be ported?
Yes! You can port your business toll-free number from your existing provider to a new toll-free service provider – without changing the number. This type of VoIP porting lets you upgrade your service without purchasing a new number while adding advanced functionality.
Related: What is a Toll-Free Number?
Reasons to Port Your Toll-Free Number to Another Service
With toll-free number porting, you can get out of long-term contracts with low-quality or high-cost services. Additionally, as your business grows, you may need to scale your communications. Porting lets you choose a new and improved toll-free service provider with added communication functionality and features.
Here are the top benefits of porting your toll-free numbers and situations where you may need to switch to a new provider:
- Stuck in long-term commitments with low value
- Low voice and audio quality
- High monthly bills
- Lack of reliable and responsive customer and technical support
- Add more global coverage with an international phone service provider
- Moving or relocating offices to a new city or region
- Network connectivity issues leading to a high number of dropped calls
- Transition to cloud communication
- Need for advanced call management features to support growing business communication needs
- Consolidation of services to centralize business communication
- Need for a reliable, flexible, and scalable phone solution
How Does Number Porting Work?
To port your toll-free number, you must find the right toll-free service provider. Most cloud phone service providers offer toll-free number porting. You simply fill in a porting request and provide the necessary information.
Then, your new and old phone service providers will work together to port your phone number without any service interruptions.
Note: You should wait for a successful transition to your new service provider before canceling your old service (ending your existing contract).
Related: 9 Best US Toll-Free Number Providers in 2022
How Long Does it Take to Port a Toll-Free Number?
Number porting can take up to 2-4 weeks, but the process is faster in some cases. This usually depends on a few factors such as the country of the number needed, type of number, current provider, and the status of the number.
Our team always works as hard as possible to get numbers ported in the shortest possible time.
Toll-Free Number Porting Requirements
To port your toll-free number, you need to provide your new toll-free service provider with some crucial information. Here are the requirements for porting toll-free numbers:
- Account number and passcode – associated with your account.
List of all phone numbers – Includes all numbers and extensions your business would like to port to the new service. - Letter of Authorization (LOA) – Gives your new toll-free service provider permission to act on your behalf when communicating with your old provider. This letter usually contains crucial information about who can make decisions regarding your number(s).
- Old provider and account number – Enables the two providers to communicate and work together to complete the process.
- Copy of current phone bill – Includes necessary information (name and address registered with the current provider) about your existing phone plan. This also serves as proof of ownership of the number.
Check out the FCC’s number porting checklist to prepare for the porting process.
Toll-Free Number Porting Rules
According to the FCC porting rules, carriers and providers:
- Must port a number upon receiving a valid request.
- May not refuse to port a number.
- Can charge for porting services.Can charge an early termination fee, especially for long-term customers.
- May refuse to port if the customer has not paid for porting.
Potential Issues with Number Porting
Some roadblocks that may impact the number porting process include:
1. Number isn’t portable
These issues may interrupt the porting process:
- The number is no longer in service — Your phone number isn’t active or has been terminated.
- Incomplete rate center / no coverage — Your new toll-free provider doesn’t have coverage in your area.
- No interconnect agreement — Your new provider does not have an agreement with the old carrier holding the number.
If you experience any of these issues during your porting process, you may need to find an alternative solution. An alternative solution would be to get a new toll-free number. Work with your toll-free service provider to find a more suitable solution.
2. Easily fixable issues
These issues may delay the porting process, but can be resolved:
- Incorrect name and address — Contact information needed to prove ownership is incorrect.
- Phone number was not found — Phone number entered incorrectly due to user error.
- Porting a toll-free number — Toll-free numbers take longer to port, depending on the provider.
- Limited porting options — Countries may have limitations on number porting.
Related: 5 Phone Number Porting Myths Debunked
How to Transfer a Toll-Free Number?
Here’s how to transfer your number to a new toll-free service:
- In most cases, you submit a porting request with requested documentation to your new toll-free service provider.
- The new provider reaches out to your old carrier.
- The old carrier confirms your identity to the new provider.
- The new provider notifies the Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC).
- NPAC creates a pending port and notifies the old provider.
- The new provider asks NPAC to activate the port.
- Upon activation, the port is broadcasted to the telecom industry network.
- Your new service will be activated.
- You can then terminate your old account.
How to Port Your Toll-Free Number to Global Call Forwarding
You can port multiple numbers to the Global Call Forwarding network. Our process is simple and quick. Start by submitting a porting request, and a customer service representative will be in touch with you within 24 hours.
Here’s how to port a toll-free number with Global Call Forwarding:
1. Check the Portability of your Numbers
You can keep your existing phone number if you remain in the same geographic area. But this is not always the case, so it is best to check whether your numbers are portable. We will also review the portability of your numbers for you. Call us at 1 (888) 908 6171 or submit a request.
2. Send us your Latest Invoice
Send us a copy of your latest invoice that includes your name, address, account number, and phone numbers.
3. Wait for the Transfer
The transfer may take a few days to a few weeks, depending on the number’s country. Keep your old service active during this transition period.
4. No Interruption of Service
Continue running your business with no service interruptions during the transfer of numbers.
5. Cancel your Previous Provider
Once your toll-free number has been ported to Global Call Forwarding, you can cancel your account with your old provider.
Switch to Global Call Forwarding
Ready to port your toll-free number to the Global Call Forwarding network? We are here to help you improve your business communication system. Call us at +1 (561) 908-6171 or chat with our experts!
