Are you tired of receiving calls and messages from unknown numbers every day? That is why you end up with the decision to change your number as this is your only escape and can save yourself from dealing with this day-to-day scenario.
However, before you change your number, there are questions in your mind that you might want to ask, such as “Is there a charge fee for changing a phone number?”
The answer is “IT DEPENDS.” It depends on the policy of your service provider. Sprint and Verizon do not charge a fee for changing your number, wherein T-Mobile does charge.
In addition, AT&T waived charging a fee for the first month; however, after that grace period, you will be charged for changing your number.
Different service providers have different policies when it comes to changing your phone number since this is a piece of personal information. As we move along, later on, you will know the amount it will cost you to change your phone number and I will share some useful tips on how to do it successfully.
How much does it cost to change a phone number
As I have mentioned earlier that every phone carrier has its own rules for changing a phone number. Though some service providers will allow you to choose the random last four digits number for your phone number, which we will be discussing later.
AT&T
You will be charged a one-time fee of $36, which will be reflected on your next monthly bill. Good news, for those new users, the charge for number change will be free within 30 days of buying it.
Guidelines on how to change number using AT&T
- Ensure that you have saved all your important messages before you proceed since there are chances that you will lose access as soon as you change your number.
- Go to the AT&T website to sign in your username and password
- Once you are logged in click the Account and Services tab and then the Wireless tab to open the list of your current wireless items.
- Click the name of your phone or your number for which you want to change your number.
- It will depend on your plan whether you will enter your ZIP code, area code, and other information about your phone and plan.
- If prompted, check the new number you would like to use. You will also have the option to select a new area code as well.
- By doing so, your phone will be assigned to your new number. If you are an iPhone user, you will need to synchronize it with iTunes before you can use the voicemail features.
- Reactivate any additional features you have added to your line such as the following:
- TXT-2-PAY
- Promotional messages
- Smart Limits
- National Do-Not-Call Registry
- If you need to change the area code, try to call the AT&T customer service to talk to a representative about changing your number.
SPRINT
There is no charge of fee for changing your number. However, there are several restrictions you should look for when changing your phone number.
Restrictions
- You cannot pick a specific number since a new number will be randomly assigned to you.
- You are not allowed to change your phone numbers more than 3 times in one month.
- Once you have changed your phone number, there is a possibility that you cannot switch back to your current number and there is no guarantee that your phone number will be recovered.
- All your saved voicemail messages will be lost that is why you need to set up a new voicemail account.
- For your new number, you need to manually set up the removed block or allow lists associated with your old number.
- Through this self-service, you cannot transfer a number from another service provider.
T-MOBILE
T-Mobile charges a $15 fee to change your phone number; however, if you are on the Pay in the Advance plan, you will be exempted from paying the fee.
Before changing your number, here are things to keep in mind.
- Changing your phone number will discard all your voicemail messages. Therefore, you need to set up a new voicemail box for your new number
- Changing your phone number can take approximately up to four hours to complete
- It can take up to three days to show the correct calling information for caller ID systems
- Using your new mobile number, it may take up to three days to access the My T-Mobile
- Call records for your old phone number will no longer be accessible on My T-Mobile
NOTE: To change your phone number with T-Mobile, you may call their customer service line.
VERIZON
Using the My Verizon app or online in My Verizon, there is no charge to change your mobile number.
Here is some information that will come in handy whenever you decide to change your phone number using Verizon.
- You can select the area code and prefix when you change your mobile number
- You don’t need to select an effective date when you have a prepaid account
- Once you have finished the process and you followed the instructions for resetting your phone, changing your number will happen immediately
- The person who tries to call your old phone number will receive a notification that your old number is no longer available.
- Using Verizon Cloud, your contacts will still be saved on your phone even though you change your number
Can you choose a phone number
In most instances, it is impossible to choose your own cell phone number from scratch; however, many service providers such as AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless will allow you to choose a cell-phone from the list of numbers if you want. The only way to assure you can choose your own cell phone number is to contact your service provider.
Here are the steps below:
- Ask the service representative if you can select your phone number
- If yes, sign in to your account on the website
- Choose your new phone number from the list of available numbers
Three important points to consider when changing a phone number
Once you have changed your phone number, updating contact profiles must be on top of your priority to-do-list. Some will require you to keep your contact information up to date, while others are just a good one to have, especially for some important situations.
1. Financial companies
Keeping up to date your contact information, whether your phone number, email address, or mailing address is required especially if you have an existing loan or you are just applying for a student loan to a lending company.
Here are other financial institutions that you would like to give your new phone number if you have a new one.
- Auto-financing lenders
- Banks and credit unions
- Brokerage firms
- Insurance companies
- Investment banks and companies
- Lending Companies
- Mortgage Companies
2. Utility companies
Electric, gas, garbage, water, and other utility providers
You must also update your contact information to utility companies, because you may not know when you will need their help. Utility companies have occasional maintenance repairs; therefore, if these utilities shut down, they will send a notification to affected residents.
That is why updating your utility provider for changing your number will save you from these kinds of scenarios.
Cable providers
For people who work and depend on internet access at home, it is good to receive notification messages whether there is an upcoming interruption of the internet or there will have an internet outage so that you can actually prepare beforehand what to do during those times.
3. Emergency contacts
If you are the emergency contacts for your child, spouse, or partner, make sure any new number will be added correctly on the appropriate form, so that when you receive an emergency call, you will be able to catch the call.
Indeed, getting a new phone number is the quickest way to get rid of receiving spam and harassing calls and texts; however when you realize how much time and effort you will need to give your new phone number to important people.
Moreover, you may not know that your number may already be a target of spammers. Hence, there is a way to end spam and harassing calls and messages, which will be discussed below.
Consumer tips on how to deal and stop spam calls and messages
Here are some helpful tips you can look for when you want to stop these spammers from receiving calls and messages without changing your phone number.
- Do not take calls from anonymous numbers. Otherwise, you hang up immediately if you have already answered such calls.
- Be aware of Caller ID showing a “local” number; because you may not be sure if it is a legitimate local caller
- One of the scammers’ techniques is they will ask you to hit a button to stop getting calls; therefore, hanging up right away is the best you can do
- Do not answer questions from unknown callers, especially those answerable with “YES/NO”
- Do not share any personal information such as mother’s maiden name, Social security numbers, passwords or any identifying information
- Ask your phone company for recommendations about blocking tools and some apps that you can download to your mobile device to block unwanted calls
Register your number on the Do Not Call List, to block these telemarketing calls. Legitimate telemarketers will look on their list to avoid calling both your landline and phone number.