How do I port my prepaid number to a different carrier's plan while retaining my balance?

May 25, 2008 3:22 PM

How do I port my prepaid number to a different carrier's plan while retaining my balance?

I'm currently using t-mobile prepaid, and would like to get onto a Sprint plan. I want to keep my existing number, and be able to sell my balance on the t-mobile account (~$80).

I've read online that people have successfully ported their prepaid number to a paid plan, but I'm not sure if it can be done across different carriers.

As for keeping my balance, would this plan work? New monthly plan takes my existing number, and my prepaid sim gets a new number. I would then sell the sim card on ebay? From what I've read, when you port your number, it seems like the carrier closes your old account automatically (which kills this plan).

Anybody have any experience/advice on doing this? I'm not even sure how they verify I own a prepaid number, since my contact information is not tied to the prepaid account.

posted by puloxor to technology (4 comments total)

I can't speak to retaining balance, but you can most likely port out of prepaid and into postpaid. Carriers must allow you to port out whether pre or postpaid, but it's up to the new carrier to decide if they will port you in. For example Alltel (stupidly) does not port in to their prepaid service.
posted by aerotive at 4:46 PM on May 25

I am not your cell phone carrier, but I do work for one.

This will be entirely dependent upon your carrier. As aerotive mentioned porting is mandated for all wireless numbers regardless of pre versus postpaid. However when the port request comes through your old number will be disconnected. It will depend on the policies of your wireless carrier whether or not you can reactivate with another number AND retain the balance.

Your best bet is to go into a company owned store (not an agent) and ask if you port the number out if they can reconnect it with another phone number and maintain the balance. Then, call their customer service number and verify.

Alternatively, check Howardforums.com for information on your specific carrier..
posted by Octoparrot at 8:10 PM on May 25

Why don't you just wait until your balance is close to zero?
posted by gjc at 11:43 AM on May 26

gjc: It will take a while to drain my balance but I would like to switch carriers soon.

I sent an email to t-mobile, and it looks like there is no way to transfer my number without closing my account. I guess I'm going to have let the minutes go to waste.
posted by puloxor at 11:20 PM on May 26