O Canada! > Canadian > Bell Canada > porting cell number from bell

porting cell number from bell

I don't believe it is possible. Landlines are allocated blocks of numbers by exchange. Area Code (XXX)-Exchange (YYY)-Number (0000-9999); 10,000 numbers are assigned to a Telco, now transferable (loaned) to a provider and will revert back to the Telco if the number is cancelled/closed.

All cell systems have a dedicated landline number assigned to a provider. Exchange numbers may be apportioned in 1000 number bocks (up to 10 providers to an exchange) and are not transferable.

This information NEEDS to be verified.

Rick

reply to qpp401
Swapped a cell phone from Bell Mobility to PCTelecom a few years ago, right after the contract expired. No problems. Just make certain your new carrier does all the work, or you will end up in limbo, early contract termination fees, and other expenses. Above else, do NOT try to cancel it yourself!

Check, though, as there could be something "30 days from the billing date".

Good Luck.

reply to qpp401
Because you are talking about wireless, those instructions to not apply. The port process in wireless, especially wireless to wireless, is very different than wireline. There is no "lsr" in wireless number porting.

You need to call your existing provider 30 days before you intend to port and have them put a port notification on the account. This is the 30 day notice period. Confirm with the agent the date on which you can port without penalty.

On that date, go to your new service provider and do the port. It should take a few hours at most for it to be completed.

wireless has whats called an "LNR" number, this might be what the op means and perhaps he spelled it wrong?
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thanks all for the inputs.
Just spoke to a bell rep at a bell boutique.
"When you are not in a contract, you need 30 days notice to cancel your cell, but you do not have to give 30 days notice if you port your cell to another carrier. The porting process will automatically cancel the account at Bell."

I did saw a thread about the CRTC ruled against Bell mandating subscribers to give notice when they port out.

Should I trust what the rep said?

The Bell store rep is probably less informed than a billing person at the call centre. Store = sales and warranty experts. Phone = billing and procedure experts. It is like that for all the telecom companies. The store rep probably meant that you won't pay a contract cancellation penalty. But you will still pay the 30 days if you walk into a competitor and port your number after the contract expiry date.

Call 611 on your phone and ask them. Mention port notification and the 30 days notice. They will know what to do and might even offer you a rebate to keep your business.

Thanks. I'll double check with 611.
The funny part is when I asked the bell rep, he's the one who gave me an example saying if I'd leave bell and go to another carrier, I don't have to give 30 days notice.

Called 611.
"No, you don't give 30 days notice to port the number. It's the new carrier that will initiate the port order. Once porting initiated, your bell account will be in suspend mode for 30 days, then it will be cancelled automatically in 30 days. You do not want to give 30 days notice of cancellation either because in doing so, your number will be frozen and you can't port."

If the above is true, customers will always stuck with the 30 days paying for nothing, no matter what.

I did ask my new carrier, and they don't do advance port orders.

Just to wrap this up, I called and gave 30 days notice to cancel, both lines.

end of story and headache.

The porting won't be happening as I decided to cancel instead.
From what I hear both from the boutique and 611, the 30 days only start ticking when the porting takes effect. That means I'll end up paying for 30 days of no service.