How to keep phone number when switching to Fido

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Jude - 16 Oct 2003 08:52 GMT

Hi guys,

Does anyone know if it's possible to keep my phone number when I switch to
Fido? I'm using Cityfone right now, it also uses the Microcell Network. I
talked to a CSR from Fido and they said they can't do it. But I remember
reading somewhere in this newsgroup that it's possible.

Can anyone tell me how?

Thanks.

Jude

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Deep Blue - 16 Oct 2003 17:31 GMT

It is possible to do it, however most CSRs don't know how to do it.

Try calling back and ask them to verify with their landline importation tool
saying that you have a friend who did it. If it still fails, let me know
here and I'll see what I can do.

~Deep Blue~

> Hi guys,
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Jude

Reply to this Message

Jude - 17 Oct 2003 09:48 GMT

Thanks, I'll try it tomorrow.

The last time I called them they said they can only transfer landlines and
not cellphone numbers. As much as I want to transfer to Fido, I'm stuck with
my phone number because most of my clients know my number already.

Jude

> It is possible to do it, however most CSRs don't know how to do it.
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> >
> > Jude

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Karen - 16 Oct 2003 20:18 GMT

> Hi guys,
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Jude

I still haven't been able to do so. Called Fido couple times. Does it
only work for Vancouver area with Cityfido? Or will it work for all
Fido coverage area?

Reply to this Message

Deep Blue - 17 Oct 2003 05:18 GMT

It works for everywhere, it has no relation with CityFido. It's just that
most CSRs never made a single number importation in their life.

See my other post.

~Deep Blue~

> > Hi guys,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> only work for Vancouver area with Cityfido? Or will it work for all
> Fido coverage area?

Reply to this Message

Jude - 18 Oct 2003 04:55 GMT

I finally did it!

You're right. Not all CSRs knows how to do this. I called 3 times in the
last three days and finally got one who knows how to do this today.

I told them from the beginning that I have a cellphone from another service
and that I wanted to transfer my phone number to Fido. They had to connect
me to the activation department and that is the person who knew how to
transfer the service. I'm currently using Cityfone. That's what makes most
CSRs confused because all they hear is CityFido which is totally different.
So I never told them what service I was using until the very end.

Thanks Deep Blue.

> It works for everywhere, it has no relation with CityFido. It's just that
> most CSRs never made a single number importation in their life.
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> > only work for Vancouver area with Cityfido? Or will it work for all
> > Fido coverage area?

Reply to this Message

Karen - 18 Oct 2003 16:47 GMT

Jude:

I have question. Ok, I called 5 times but still haven't reached the
right person. So, do you have to have a Fido sim first before doing
that? How do you cancel your Cityfone account? Is the transfer
instant?

Karen

> I finally did it!
>
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
> > > only work for Vancouver area with Cityfido? Or will it work for all
> > > Fido coverage area?

Reply to this Message

Jude - 19 Oct 2003 08:20 GMT

I basically called Fido in the early afternoon I believe. Usually it's
better if you call them before 4pm to get more experienced people.

I just told them that I have a cellphone with another company, I want to
transfer my service to Fido. Can you transfer my phone number so I can have
the same phone number when I switch to Fido?

The 3rd CSR I talked to said yes and that they can do that and he was
transferring me to the Activiation Department.

The activation deparment personnel seems more knowledgable than the CSR so
you may want to get transferred there when you talk to them.

They're basically doing a straight transfer. They can only transfer numbers
from companies which they have an agreement with (access to their system I
think). Otherwise, they can transfer the phone number.

The Fido service will be activated 15 days from the day I called. They'll
send me a Fido Sim with the number I have now and when it's done, it will
automatically cancel my Cityfone account (as far as I know, I have to call
Fido and Cityfone to verify that).

Some CSRs are going to say that they will charge you $50 to transfer the
service, if that's the case, they're thinking of the "CityFido" package.
Very few CSRs seem to know who Cityfone is.

I was just charged $25 for the Sim card.

They do require that your current phone be under your name for them to
transfer it.

Jude

> Jude:
>
[quoted text clipped - 49 lines]
> > > > only work for Vancouver area with Cityfido? Or will it work for all
> > > > Fido coverage area?

Reply to this Message

Morini - 19 Oct 2003 20:27 GMT

Just spent half an hour on the phone inquiring about Cityfone to
Cityfido transfer. As expected, the CSR told me it couldn't be done.
On my insistence, the CSR transferred me a person in activations who
couldn't confirm my request. On my insistence, he contacted somebody
in the deactivation department (whatever that is) who had never heard
of a Cityfone to Cityfido transfer. Can somebody drop a name of who to
talk to or some type of specifics on this matter?

> I basically called Fido in the early afternoon I believe. Usually it's
> better if you call them before 4pm to get more experienced people.
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> Jude

Reply to this Message

Jude - 20 Oct 2003 09:38 GMT

I don't know what you tell you. I tried 3 times in 3 different days before I
got someone who knows how to do it.

> Just spent half an hour on the phone inquiring about Cityfone to
> Cityfido transfer. As expected, the CSR told me it couldn't be done.
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> >
> > Jude

Reply to this Message

B - 20 Oct 2003 15:18 GMT

Watch out for CityFone! I transferred my number from them to
ZeroGravity and they still billed me for the next month (August). I
called to let them know and they agreed that it shouldn't have been
billed and that I should get a refund on my credit card statement. I
still haven't gotten it. I called them at the end of September and all
they could say was that it would show up on my next credit card
statement.

>I basically called Fido in the early afternoon I believe. Usually it's
>better if you call them before 4pm to get more experienced people.
[quoted text clipped - 90 lines]
>> > > > only work for Vancouver area with Cityfido? Or will it work for all
>> > > > Fido coverage area?

Reply to this Message

Deep Blue - 20 Oct 2003 22:46 GMT

Fido can transfer two types of numbers: landlines numbers and their
resellers numbers (that is, cellphone providers using the Microcell network
such as CityFone, SIMpro, ZeroGravity Wireless, SearsConnect, etc.).

Activation reps aren't more knowledgeable than CSRs, it's just that they
deal with activations, so they know more about number imports and that kind
of stuff than CSRs who are dealing with current customers. There is a lot of
stuff activation reps doesn't know about that CSRs do.

The 50$ thing is indeed only for the CityFido service, and is applicable
even if you do not import your landline number. No errors can be made for
this as it is applied by the system, not by the CSR, so it won't appear on
your invoice unless you activated a line after Oct 9th and requested the
CityFido service.

~Deep Blue~

> The activation deparment personnel seems more knowledgable than the CSR so
> you may want to get transferred there when you talk to them.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> service, if that's the case, they're thinking of the "CityFido" package.
> Very few CSRs seem to know who Cityfone is.

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