AT&T won't let me port to another carrier

[Zenara25]

My Gophone account refill expires on 6/28. Decided I would switch to Airvoice since I have an iPhone and want to be able to check my email without paying for an extra data plan. Purchased an Airvoice SIM card and refill card also. So I got all the info from AT&T on 6/21 account# etc. Went to the airvoice website and filled in the info to start the port. Waited til 6/25 and emailed airvoice to check the status. They said they were unable to port the number because another port request was open with another carrier. I never requested any other port except airvoice.So airvoice said call AT&T and see if they have an open port request from another carrier and have them cancel the request.So I called AT&T and they said there are no open port requests from airvoice or any other carrier. AT&T got airvoice on the phone and that resulted in no change. AT&T then said that Verizon made a port request. So AT&T called verizon. Verizon said they had no port requests for my number. AT&T then asks me why I'm switching and tries to get me to take a look at their plans.I ask for a supervisor and he tells me there's nothing he can do. I might have to get a different phone # or stay with AT&T. He then says that he will look into their porting department and get back with me within 24-72hrs. I get his first name and ID #

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

If i had to guess, your new carrier is buying service from Verizon so the port may come in looking funny?  See what happens when they call you back.

[Zenara25]

Airvoice is the carrier. They use the MVNO network just like AT&T Gophone. So there should be no issue.

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

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Zenara25 wrote:

Airvoice is the carrier. They use the MVNO network just like AT&T Gophone. So there should be no issue.

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That is what I am suggesting, Airvoice uses the Verizon network for their service.  When they are porting your number, ATT may be seeing both Airvoice and Verizon making the request and they do not accept two requests for one number.

[Zenara25]

Then why can't AT&T port my number if this is a known issue?

[Zenara25]

Also Airvoice uses GSM which is used by AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon does not appear to use GSM. They appear to use CDMA.

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

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Zenara25 wrote:

Then why can't AT&T port my number if this is a known issue?

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I do not know.  I would continue to Call them directly. This is a customer to customer forum and cannot see any accounts and such.

[Zenara25]

I emailed Airvoice and they are using the AT&T network.

[Zenara25]

I had to contact the BBB to get this issue resolved. If anyone has an issue I suggest you contact your local BBB. My number is now ported thanks to the BBB.

[Zenara25]

I still have an unresolved issue.

I created an airvoice account with a new cell phone number. Data (email,internet etc.) worked fine (when not on wifi). Once I ported my AT&T number over data no longer works.

Tested this even further by paying for a new sim card (on ebay for $1 shipped) and buying a brand new number with airvoice for $10. This number works with data.

The only number that doesn't work with data is the AT&T ported number. So AT&T must be blocking my number somehow from using data.

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

Resolved yet?

[Zenara25]

No the problem is still there. 

The other day I put the sim card in my old pantech phone for a few days. Going to put it back in my iPhone and see if data is working again. I read somewhere that this can fix the AT&T block sometimes. Will update once I get around to that.

If that doesn't work I might go another step and 'lose'/change my original number to see if the block is tied now also to the sim card.

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

I hope you get a resolution soon.

Good luck.