Porting Cingular Prepaid to Cingular Plan???

Hoping someone out there can help me with this particular problem...

I've had a Cingular Prepaid since 10/2003. Overall I've been happy with my service, but with their AT&T merger they've increased their prepaid rate. So when I found out that I could get a discount through work on a plan I looked into switching. The Local Number Portability checker on the Cingular site said I wasn't eligible to port it to a Cingular plan, but when I spoke to someone from their bsuiness sales number they said to go ahead and place the order as it would be simple to port the number once I had the new phone. I ordered on Friday and received the phone today. Now when I called Cingular to set my exisiting number on the new phone, they say it can't be done. Unfortunately I didn't get the name of the person I spoke with on Friday.

I spoke with four different people today and got four differing answers. One told me that the numbers are in a separate pool and when I cancel it takes 60 days for the number to be available again. Another said that the prepaid numbers are on a different part of "the system" than plan numbers, and trying to port would result in a "system crash"

Another told me that I could probably get it done at the local Cingular store. The last said it couldn't be done-- period. The craziest thing is that I've checked the number portability with all the other carriers and get a green light from all of them on taking my number with me-- T-Mobile, Nextel, SprintPCS, and VerizonWireless.

Swapping numbers is not an option for me; this number is on several hundred remaining business cards. I explained to everyone at Cingular that I spoke with that it is ludicrous that they can't port their own numbers. They are going to lose an otherwise satisfied customer because of this kludge. I'd really like to stay with Cingular, so I'm hoping that someone will have experienced a similar situation and gotten a successful resolution to this problem. I'm not too knowledgeable about number porting, but I am pretty sure that I don't want to cancel my existing number; I think I'd lose it for sure. As for the 60 day thing, my existing prepaid account minutes (only $2.00 remaining) don't expire until 10/25/2005, so I have plenty of time to keep that number. I do have a call into my local Cingular store and they are checking on this for me, but so far it's a no go.

Anyone have any ideas?

Im not sure how Cingular works but I do not see a problem with it. I knwo with T-Mobile that if you have a prepaid service and want to port your number to postpaid all you need to do is set up your postpaid account (get a temp number) and port your prepaid number in.

Same thing applies for Cingular.

when you call back to CS let the rep know you need to speak to someone in the porting group and explain your situation call before 9pm cst and they "should " be able to take care of you

Or call the PAC:

(866) 895-1097

This is the number to the Porting Activations Center. It is an external number so customers can call.

Porting Cingular Prepaid to Cingular Plan???

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