It’s a fact of modern life: mobile numbers come and go. Whether it’s switching providers, moving home, or changing jobs, your phone number won’t always be with you. However, the contact details you share with friends are often as important as the friends themselves. A phone number is your introduction to the world; it’s how people reach you, find you on Google, and make plans to meet up in person. So when you get a new mobile service or change your existing number for another one, what should you do with your old number? It’s challenging to keep track of all these changes and adapt new services accordingly. However, there are ways to get back an old phone number after switching providers or mobile services providers; this article will show some insider tips.
How To Get An Old Phone Number Back
Get a new SIM card
If you have a contract with your current mobile service provider or mobile service provider, you can still get your old phone number back by simply changing the SIM card. At first, you won’t be able to get hold of your old number; however, once the new SIM card is activated, you will be able to use it on any other phone number that has been registered with your previous provider.
Call your old number
If you have a mobile phone that is compatible with any other service provider and want to port it to another provider, all you need to do is call your old number from another phone and ask for extension billing details (if applicable). This will allow you to port over the mobile number without losing contact with friends and family. If this option isn’t available on your current device, then there are different methods that can help in getting back an old phone number after switching services providers:
Use Google Voice Number Lookup Service
If you have an Android device running version 4 or higher or iPhone running version 4 or higher (or iPad), then Google Voice Number Lookup Service is one of the best tools for finding out which numbers are linked to different people’s phones so that they can be ported over into new services without losing contact with friends and family members already on those numbers. You need to create an account on Google Voice and enter the name of the person whose old phone number you want to get back. Then, all you need to do is add their phone number to your Google Voice account and the service will port their number over for you.
Call the original carrier and ask for a new number
If you have a mobile phone that is compatible with any other service provider, then simply call the original carrier on your old number and ask them if they can provide a new one for you. If they can’t, then there are different methods that can help in getting back an old phone number after switching services providers.
Use VoIP Phone Service To Port Out An Old Phone Number.
While some of the above options may be more convenient, there are some situations where VoIP phone services are more suitable than others.
Reasons To Keep Your Old Phone Number
You’ve already been with a particular provider for many years.
If you’re switching providers, then you might want to keep your old number if it’s one that you’ve had for a long time and has built up a large contact book of friends and family who use the number. You may also want to keep your old number in order to keep all of your contacts from the same service provider together so that they can easily be ported over into a new service without having to lose contact with anyone you have contact with on your old number.
You’re Switching Providers
If you are switching providers, then there are many reasons why it may make more sense for you to keep your old phone number than port it over to another one. For example:
You’re Switching Providers, but you have a large contact book.
If you’re switching providers and have a large contact book, then it might be in your best interest to keep your old number rather than port it over to another one. For example:
You’ve recently acquired a new number, but don’t want to lose all of your old contacts.
If you recently acquired a new phone number, then it might make sense for you to keep the old one rather than port it over to another provider. For example:
You’re Moving or Changing Your Location or Area Code
If you’re moving or changing your area code, then it may make sense for you to keep the old number rather than port over all of your contacts from the previous area code into the new one. In many areas of the country, that would simply be impossible if you wanted your entire contact list ported over onto another phone service in order to retain all of your existing numbers and contacts if they are on that service as well.
How To Get Your Old Phone Number Back After Changing Providers
- Keep in mind that if you’re switching providers, then you will probably have to port your number over to the new provider before you can get your old number back.
- To get your old phone number back from a new provider, call the customer service department of the new provider and ask them if they are able to transfer your contacts from their service to the one you are switching over to. Be sure to let them know that you have an existing account with their competitor so that they do not try and charge you for porting it over for free.
- If they can’t transfer your contacts, then ask them if they will be able to remove all of your old numbers from their system for a small fee. Be sure to tell them that you have an existing account with their competitor so that they do not try and charge you for removing it for free as well.
- If they are willing to remove all of your old numbers, then simply call up the customer service department of the previous carrier (the one which gave out your original phone number) and request a transfer back into your old number without having any contact information on it at all (just like when you first got it). They will most likely be able to give it back without any questions asked, assuming that there is no contract associated with it or anything else involved in keeping it locked down on their end (which there shouldn’t be).
- If this is something you are concerned about doing, then you might want to ask them for a copy of your old account information in case they need any additional information such as your address, phone number, etc.
Conclusion
The mobile phone has become a fixture in modern life. It’s rare to see someone without one these days, so it’s not surprising that people hold on to their numbers for as long as possible. You may have a lot of different numbers over the course of your life, but there are ways to keep your old number at least for a few more years, or even permanently.
