Change number with voicemail, and no new contract?

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Binba - 01 Jun 2007 06:42 GMT

I moved from Chicago to LA and want to change my T-mobile number.
Easiest thing, right? There's only one little thing: I want a message
at my old number, for a few weeks, that tells people about the new
one.

I've been with T-mobile for 2.5 years, am content with my plan and
phone, get 50 extra minutes as a "valued customer", and I love being
out of contract. I'd like to keep these.

A rep at a store could only suggest starting a new plan, and closing
the old one later. That way I'll be signing a 1-year contract without
even getting a phone out of it, and lose the extra minutes.

What if I open a prepaid line (with any carrier), port the number to
it and ask to keep the old account open but with a new number? Is this
possible? How should I present my case to T-mobile (and to who)? Any
better ideas?

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SoCalCommie - 01 Jun 2007 23:25 GMT

Why change your number? Your old number is 'portable'... it doesn't
matter where you live within T-Mobil's coverage or even if you change
carriers.

SoCalCommie

"I'm tired off those comparisons between Hitler and George W. Bush!
Hitler was a highly decorated combat veteran who won office by
majority vote!" - Jon Stewart

> I moved from Chicago to LA and want to change my T-mobile number.
> Easiest thing, right? There's only one little thing: I want a message
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> possible? How should I present my case to T-mobile (and to who)? Any
> better ideas?

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Binba - 02 Jun 2007 20:33 GMT

When people (business contacts) see the number, it looks out-of-town,
unlike anything they're working with. Some might be confused as to my
whereabouts, or think I'm here temporarily. One thing I want off my
job hunt.

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Binba - 11 Jun 2007 06:36 GMT

Well, apparently this was so extreme that nobody knew, or ever tried
it. If anyone does need the info:

I did it, it took just 2 days, and I didn't have to pay a thing except
for a new SIM card. After some 25 minutes of discussion with CSR, once
we figured out the gameplan it was fairly simple: cancel old post-paid
number, open a new prepaid with old number, reactivate post-paid with
a new number.

Start with the cancellations dept., and explain the situation. Make
sure they put the right notes in your records. They then transferred
me to Prepaid which already knew what to do and pulled the old number
right away. The next day I contacted Activations, and got a new number
into a new SIM with my old plan terms (including staying out of
contract). Voila!

Note: Being patient, understanding, pleasant, and knowledgable about
CSR procedures (try HowardForums) was highly helpful.

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