Picking my cell phone number

C

chd guy

New member
Hi,

I recently signed up for an account with Verizon Wireless.

My phone was activated, and they automatically gave me my cell phone number. It's annoying and confusing. I'd rather have a number that could spell something out using the numbers on the number pad.

I called a guy at Verizon and he said that for $15.00 I can change the number, but it won't be to a number of my choosing. It will just be another randomly generated number. I don't want to pay $15.00 to get another number that I'm not interested in, you know? I'd rather have something like (555) 262-2355, or (555) BOB-CELL

Any ideas? Is there some website or other resource that has available cell phone numbers to choose from? Does anyone know a way that Verizon would be willing to give me a number that I ask for, rather than paying $15 for the random one?

I think we would all benefit from this info... I mean who wouldn't change their number for $15 so their friends could call "(555) MY-PHONE"??

Thanks,

-Bob
 
The exchange, 262 for example, has to be available as a local exchange in your area code. If your area code is 901, and they don't have a local exchange that is 901-262-XXXX, you can't get that for the first 3 digits of your phone number - same as with a landline phone. They don't have 000 through 999 available for every area code.

Cell companies usually have a "block" of numbers that they use. Like, they will set aside 50 numbers in order and can't use any other numbers until those 50 are used. Example - 504-895-1505 through 504-895-1554 is the block of 50 numbers. If you request 504-895-2689, it's not in that block, so it's not available.
 
Usually in the retail store the reps will allow you to look at a selection on the screen, either that or let you choose from more. Customer care has strict guidelines to go by when requesting things like that.
 
When I first got Verizon about a year and half ago I was allowed to choose my number from a list of available numbers, not a whole lot but I could choose. This was at a radio shack, I'm not sure if this is common practice there or not.
 
Yes. Normally reps will not let you look at the screen based on how the desk setup is in the store. Usually each city or area has a list of prefixes to choose from. Some cities more or less. After you choose the prefix, there will be a list of numbers to choose from. In some cases, I think you can reserve a number for business reasons, but there is a charge. I know its been 13 days since your activation, you probably have decided by now : /
 
There is a 20.00 processing fee for everything ... in the billing system for new england which is I2k east we can see the area code like 617 and the prefix like 447 and then we can plus in the last 4 digits. The only people that might be able to see the number pool is a Dept call TNI and i believe customer can not call them. If you want to try to get a good number i would call a local store and ask the rep and see if they are willing to do it for you, please try to go in the store when it's not busy so you don't hold up the line ... if you go in during down time i'm sure they can look for a good number for you. The number pool gets refreshed on sunday if i remember.
 
I have seen web sites with a program where you put a number in & it spells out a number of words. Might not be the words or name you want, but might be easy to pass on to someone else rather then a #.
 
you need to go to a 'mom and pop shop'

i remember being shown a list of available numbers that i could choose from. i'm not sure if retail stores do that, but a non-retail m&p shop allowed me to choose and see the numbers that remained (they were refreshing the list occasionally to find new numbers).

the problem is that some m&p shops may give you problems early on in the service. i experienced having problems with attaining the number i wanted and having it registered for another family member with a different phone. after 1 week or 2, everything was fixed, i got the number, phone, and plan i wanted... plus they had really really good deals on unlocked phones not normally sold in retail stores (which was a huge plus for me).
 
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