GoPhone SIM card and portability

[droopycom]

Hi,

I currently have an ATT family plan with two lines, and I also have a GoPhone number.

The "GoPhone" is actually an imported Sony phone, i bought a GoPhone SIM from eBay and used that for sa while in the sony phone with no problem.

Now, I want to convert the "GoPhone" to a 3rd line on my family plan.

ATT tells me several thing:
- We need to send you a new SIM card.
- We CANT port the phone number from the GoPhone to the regular plan
- The GoPhone doesnt work on the same towers as the regular plan

Thats seems bull____ to me, because way back in 2002, my first phone was an ATT wireless prepaid customer, and then I transformed to a ATT plan, and kept the same number, then ATT was acquired by Cingular, and at some point I got a new phone and a new SIM, and also once I lost my phone and I bought a SIM card online to put in an older phone... all of that worked, and I still have the same number.

The GoPhone SIM card I have doesnt not have anything that indicate that its go phone only, and there is even a freaking 3G logo on it... I dont think GoPhone by default do 3G, so they look to me that its just the same SIM...


So what gives ? Are they bull____ing me, or are there real technical reasons behind this ?

And isnt that against the law that they would refuse to port my number?

-Thanks

[Eric47]

go into a store, youll be able to recieve instant help.

also just to let you know, sim cards are free when you get a go phone plan i hope you didnt pay to much for that one you bought on ebay.

also you can keep your number they will just have to convert it to your family account.

you have to understand, CS 90% of the time is dealing with problems with handsets,features,billing, etc. they do not know much about converting accounts and creating new ones, that is mainly what the reps in the store do. and generally if they have been there for awhile, they will be able to do this for you with no problem.

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by droopycom

Hi,

I currently have an ATT family plan with two lines, and I also have a GoPhone number.

The "GoPhone" is actually an imported Sony phone, i bought a GoPhone SIM from eBay and used that for sa while in the sony phone with no problem.

Now, I want to convert the "GoPhone" to a 3rd line on my family plan.

ATT tells me several thing:
- We need to send you a new SIM card.
- We CANT port the phone number from the GoPhone to the regular plan
- The GoPhone doesnt work on the same towers as the regular plan

Thats seems bull____ to me, because way back in 2002, my first phone was an ATT wireless prepaid customer, and then I transformed to a ATT plan, and kept the same number, then ATT was acquired by Cingular, and at some point I got a new phone and a new SIM, and also once I lost my phone and I bought a SIM card online to put in an older phone... all of that worked, and I still have the same number.

The GoPhone SIM card I have doesnt not have anything that indicate that its go phone only, and there is even a freaking 3G logo on it... I dont think GoPhone by default do 3G, so they look to me that its just the same SIM...


So what gives ? Are they bull____ing me, or are there real technical reasons behind this ?

And isnt that against the law that they would refuse to port my number?

-Thanks

Interesting, I just did this in December without any problems. I don't know if it is a matter of sementics but it is technically not "porting", you are changing your prepay account into a postpay.

I would recommended you go into a store and it will be much easier to do, that is exactly what I did and I didn't even have my GoPhone with me, which btw is a non US phone also.

Good luck & welcome to WA.

[droopycom]

Originally Posted by Eric47

also just to let you know, sim cards are free when you get a go phone plan i hope you didnt pay to much for that one you bought on ebay.

I believe they are free when you buy the phone. I already had the phone.

I paid 1.04 for 5 set of (SIM + $10 credit), plus 12.99 S+H. So basically, $14 for $50 dollar prepaid credit and 5 SIMs.

Some ATT store was charging $20 for replacing a SIM. I'm not sure if it was a ATT owned store, or a authorized resseller, I noticed there are a lot of differences between those 2.

[droopycom]

Originally Posted by Charlyee

Interesting, I just did this in December without any problems. I don't know if it is a matter of sementics but it is technically not "porting", you are changing your prepay account into a postpay.

I would recommended you go into a store and it will be much easier to do, that is exactly what I did and I didn't even have my GoPhone with me, which btw is a non US phone also.

Good luck & welcome to WA.

Yeah... I think I'll try that.

Another funny story with ATT: when me and my wife tried to merge our lines on a single plan, this was an epic story. They had to:
1) Transfer the financial responsability of her account to my name.
2) Create a brand new account
3) Move the two lines form the old account to the new account

Then I received 3 differents bills for the 3 account... and somehow they left a $2.34 negative balance on her old account, we kept receiving bills with -$2.34 for 6 month.
My wife called them to get the money back to the new account, and they said I need to call, because its in my name. Then I called, and they said she needs to call... and they they said, we cant transfer the money, we are going to send your a $2.34 check!

We spent half an our on the phone for 2.34... but at least im not receiving the useless bill anymore...

[Eric47]

yea that wouldve been a reseller. generally corporate stores will give you the sim free, they just ask that you buy a pin which is obviously necessary anyhow.

sounds like you got a decent deal though.

just make sure you go into a corporate store when you go to get help converting your line!

good luck!

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by droopycom

Yeah... I think I'll try that.

Another funny story with ATT: when me and my wife tried to merge our lines on a single plan, this was an epic story. They had to:
1) Transfer the financial responsability of her account to my name.
2) Create a brand new account
3) Move the two lines form the old account to the new account

Then I received 3 differents bills for the 3 account... and somehow they left a $2.34 negative balance on her old account, we kept receiving bills with -$2.34 for 6 month.
My wife called them to get the money back to the new account, and they said I need to call, because its in my name. Then I called, and they said she needs to call... and they they said, we cant transfer the money, we are going to send your a $2.34 check!

We spent half an our on the phone for 2.34... but at least im not receiving the useless bill anymore...

yea im pretty much anti customer service calls just for this reason lol...

i tried to call bellsouth to find out when my bill cycle date was and i got transfered 3 times...i still dont knwo when it is

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by droopycom

Yeah... I think I'll try that.

Another funny story with ATT: when me and my wife tried to merge our lines on a single plan, this was an epic story. They had to:
1) Transfer the financial responsability of her account to my name.
2) Create a brand new account
3) Move the two lines form the old account to the new account

Then I received 3 differents bills for the 3 account... and somehow they left a $2.34 negative balance on her old account, we kept receiving bills with -$2.34 for 6 month.
My wife called them to get the money back to the new account, and they said I need to call, because its in my name. Then I called, and they said she needs to call... and they they said, we cant transfer the money, we are going to send your a $2.34 check!

We spent half an our on the phone for 2.34... but at least im not receiving the useless bill anymore...

Yep, good ol' customer service...The right hand has no idea what the left hand is doing.

[Eric47]

lol yep. at least cell phone companies arent as bad as utility companies.

when i first moved into my house, i called the local water company (there is only 1 here...so the local water monopoly) and i asked them to set me up on autobill pay. i followed their instructions and mailed in a voided check and understood id have to pay normally for 2 months...fine...no problems.

so before the 3rd payment was due, they called me and said "sir we tried to establish your autobill pay and it wouldnt allow it..."

i said..hmm..what account and routing numbers do you have? she read them back to me correctly...i said well thats it...

she responded "those arent valid, you may wanto contact your bank...."

mind you i have had that checking account for YEARS and knew the #'s by heart...and there was plenty of money to support the wopping 20 bucks a month i spend on water.

so after i am STEAMING upset because some jerk lady called to tell me that i didnt know my own account number and tell me "that i dont know what im talking about"...after i hung up...a couple days pass... low and behold it started autodrafting 2 days later.....

what makes it even worse is, there is no choice but to put up with this stupidity and disrespectful customer service if i ever have a real problem

i know it was a bit offtopic...but the moral is...
even the worst cell customer service experiences ive had (and ive had them with all companys) havent compared to that level of frustration...espically when you dont have the leverage to leave their company...no matter what...at least we have that will cell providers...

[droopycom]

Originally Posted by Eric47

yea that wouldve been a reseller. generally corporate stores will give you the sim free, they just ask that you buy a pin which is obviously necessary anyhow.

sounds like you got a decent deal though.

just make sure you go into a corporate store when you go to get help converting your line!

good luck!

Went into a store yesterday evening, converted with no problems whatsoever and no questions asked.

So, Michael from ATT customer service, you are clueless... I'm thinking about sending a complaint to ATT for that matter... (but im not sure its worth my time...)

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by droopycom

Went into a store yesterday evening, converted with no problems whatsoever and no questions asked.

So, Michael from ATT customer service, you are clueless... I'm thinking about sending a complaint to ATT for that matter... (but im not sure its worth my time...)

So, I'm assuming this is the rep who originally told you you couldn't convert your number from prepay to postpaid, in the first place, right???

[droopycom]

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

So, I'm assuming this is the rep who originally told you you couldn't convert your number from prepay to postpaid, in the first place, right???

Yes. Same guy...

[Eric47]

well glad to hear it all worked out

[jhiner]

Is it possible to go from GoPhone to a regular service plan without getting into a contract?
I've got an iPhone on the gophone plan, but want to start using a regular plan but I don't want to sign a contract.

[Charlyee]

Originally Posted by jhiner

Is it possible to go from GoPhone to a regular service plan without getting into a contract?I've got an iPhone on the gophone plan, but want to start using a regular plan but I don't want to sign a contract.

Yes, I just did that about six months back. You may have to go to a store and do it, which is what I did.

PS: I don't know if the fact it is an iPhone makes any difference, it should not though.

Hope this helps.

Welcome to Wireless Advisor.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

if its one of the original iPhones and you have a SIM and everything then they should let you do it.........they really shouldnt want to require you to sign a new contract cuz its not like your getting a subsidized phone or anything

[sandyandi]

""SERO F&F 500: 500 Flexible Anytime Minutes, UNLIMITED Nights and Weekends (7PM), UNLIMITED Mobile to Mobile, UNLIMITED Power Vision, UNLIMITED Messaging (Text/Picture/Video), Pick 3""




what plan is that? and who with?

[Charlyee]

Wirelessly posted (Treo 750: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.6) UP.Link/6.3.1.17.0)

Originally Posted by sandyandi

what plan is that? and who with?

That is an employee referred plan. It is on Sprint.

Here is "The Official SERO Thread"

http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/sp...ro-thread.html (The official SERO thread)