Blog/How To Get An Old Phone Number Back

How To Get An Old Phone Number Back

You may need your old deactivated number back for personal or business reasons. Follow the steps in this guide to reclaim your deactivated old phone number if it has not been recycled, or get a new number similar to your old one from Community Phone.

Reclaiming your old deactivated number is subjective and entirely dependent on the phone number-recycling process. Read on to learn more!

How to Get an Old Cell Number Back

Your provider may have deactivated your cell number or SIM if you have not recharged it or used it for 6 months. Providers can also deactivate numbers if someone has used them for fraud or abuse.

You can retrieve your SIM number, reach out to your carrier via mail or phone, and request reactivation if they have not reassigned the number yet.

Follow these steps to reactivate your old cell number if it hasn’t been reassigned:

1. Take out your SIM from your mobile

2. Note the printed numbers on your SIM. That is your mobile number

3. Contact your carrier via phone or email

4. Request for reactivation

5. Provide details like the IMEI and SIM number to the customer care rep

6. Enquire if you can use the same SIM card or if you need a new one after reactivation

7. Follow the rep’s instructions of the rep.

NOTE: Many carriers do not allow the SIM to be activated a second time. If your number has been inactive for quite some time you will be able to retrieve it. In this case, you best option is to get a new number and affordable landline or cell phone service with Community Phone.

How to Get an Old Landline Number Back

When a phone number is deactivated, it returns to a pool of available numbers from which anybody can purchase it. If your service provider has not allocated your old number to anyone, you can ask them to reactivate it.

You can try to call your old number. If it continues to ring or someone answers, you know someone is using it. If you get a message saying the number is inactive, it has not been allocated to anybody yet, and you can reclaim it.

If your old number is available, you can contact your service provider to activate that number. If your old number is unavailable, sign up with Community Phone to get a new number and enjoy unlimited nationwide calling and other features at affordable prices.

Get a Number Similar to Your Old One With Community Phone

Reclaiming your old phone number is subject to availability and the ability to spend hours on the phone with your old provider. Despite hours on the phone, some carriers may not allow SIM cards to be activated a second time.

Cut to the chase; save time and effort by choosing your preferred number when you sign up with Community Phone. If your preferred number is unavailable, their landline specialists will help you get a similar number.

Choose from one of the - local, toll-free, or vanity numbers for landlines to increase your brand reach and scale your business when you sign up with Community Phone.

Talk to their sales department to learn more about the excellent cell plans and special discounts available to existing Community Phone landline customers before you get a new cell number. More on this below!

Get Premium Phone Numbers With Community Phone

Get a Phone Number with Community Phone

You can buy a unique number you choose from Community Phone if it is available and has not been assigned.

Pair your number with Community Phone, a revolutionary wireless landline phone service that does not need an internet or copper connection to operate. With affordable plans, unlimited nationwide calling, strong coverage in 99% of the U.S, and many calling features, Community Phone is just the landline service you need for your family and business.

Types of Phone Numbers Available

1. Toll-Free Numbers

Build trust and generate customer goodwill with toll-free numbers from Community Phone. Customers do not incur charges when they call numbers that have -800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, or 833 numbers in place of the area code, as these numbers are not location-specific.

Enhance your business reputation and build credibility among your customers with a toll-free number. You can generate leads or test the efficacy of your marketing campaigns by including these toll-free numbers in your marketing strategy. The possibilities are endless!

Toll-Free Numbers

2. Local Phone Numbers

An area code for a local number is particular to a given place, city, or state. Studies report that customers do not mind spending over 60% extra to grow a local business. Get your local community's support to scale your business with local numbers.

A local number assures your customer that you are a part of their community, helps them build trust, and encourages them to do more business with you. When advertising locally, you can see a rise in your conversion if you use local phone numbers for your ad and email campaigns.

Local Phone Numbers

3. Vanity Phone Numbers

Your company's phone number is a crucial component of your brand. Create a great impression among your customers with a vanity phone number like 1-800-FLOWERS which makes it difficult for them to forget your phone number.

Sales psychology reiterates the importance of businesses sending subtle messages to the brain to increase sales and conversions. Pair your vanity number with a catchy slogan or a nice jingle to convert potentials, encourage regulars to spend more, and bring in referrals.

Stand out from the competition and communicate your core offerings to attract and retain clientele with a vanity number from Community Phone.

Get a New Cell Number from Community Phone

If your old cell number has been reassigned or your provider refuses to activate the SIM a second time, you can get a new cell number from Community Phone. Here are the steps to get a new cell number:

1. Contact Community Phone at 866-509-2785 and speak with a landline/business specialist

2. Choose your preferred number

3. Their landline specialists can help you get a similar number if your preferred number is unavailable.

4. Discuss plans and choose the one that works best for you.

5. Receive the SIM and start using your new cell number.

Enjoy unlimited talk and text starting from $29 with 4G LTE or 5G coverage when you sign up with Community Phone. Existing landline customers get an attractive discount when they bundle their cell plan with their landline, making Community Phone the most sought-after provider in the US.

Talk to their landline specialists today!

Community Phone's Cell Phone Plan

What is Community Phone?

Community Phone is a wireless landline phone service provider in the U.S that works off cell towers, eliminating the need for an internet or copper connection.

When you connect your Community Phone landline base to a power outlet, hook up a phone, and power it on, it will connect your phone to cell towers in your area for a dial tone - all in under 30 seconds. The superior design of the base ensures excellent voice quality in rural and low-reception areas and keeps your phone working during power outages with its 12-hour backup battery.

The company offers reliable coverage across 99% of the US, unlimited nationwide calling with no hidden charges, affordable plans, and great calling features.

Experience the reliability of landlines, excellent calling features, and the freedom of wireless access with Community Phone's landline service, the best in the U.S. Learn more!

Community Phone

Benefits of Switching to Community Phone

1. Unlimited Nationwide Calling

Stay in touch with your loved ones or business associates across the country with Community Phone's unlimited minutes.

2. No Internet Required Or Copper Connection Required

The Community Phone landline base connects to cell towers in your area to give you reliable landline service with clear call quality. This revolutionary technology eliminates the need for high-speed internet or a copper connection.

3. Works During Power Outages

The 12-hour backup battery in the Community Phone landline base keeps your phones working during a blackout or power outage.

4. No Hidden Charges

You pay what you signed up for at Community Phone. If you think Community Phone is not ideal, you can cancel your service anytime without jumping hoops.

5. Cost-Effective Plans

A recent study revealed that the Community Phone landline service is over 30% cheaper than traditional landlines, about 20% cheaper than VoIP phones, and over 70% cheaper than cell phones.

Read on to learn how to port your active number to Community Phone to enjoy the reliability of a landline and the freedom of wireless access with outstanding calling features.

How to Port Your Active Number to Community Phone

You can switch your number to Community Phone through its hand-held porting process in 3-5 business days without disrupting service. Follow these steps to port your active number:

1. Contact Community Phone

Call their customer care at 866-271-7804. Inform the rep that you would like to port your number. A dedicated representative will be assigned to help you with your porting process.****

2. Check for Coverage

Your rep will check your area to ensure Community Phone has coverage before you sign up with them.****

3. Authorize Porting

Once the rep confirms coverage, you can share the necessary information to port your number. Community Phone will need:

1. The phone number you want to port

2. Your name as it is with your old service provider

3. Account number from the previous provider

4. PIN from the previous provider

5. The billing address the previous provider has on file for you

6. A letter of authorization

4. Contact Your Old Provider

****Contact your old provider and request your number to be ported to Community Phone.

5. Wait For Porting to Complete

Your dedicated rep will keep you updated on the porting status and any challenges during the process. Alternatively, you can check the status by logging into your Community Phone user account on dashboard.communityphone.org.

6. Verify If Your Number is Active

Once Community Phone has completed porting, you will receive your landline base if you have opted for it. Install the landline base in 30 seconds per the manual's instructions, and test your phone to check if you can make and receive calls. Contact customer care if you have challenges.****

7. Cancel Service With Your Old Provider

After verifying that your Community Phone service is active, you can call your old provider and cancel the service with them.

What Happens to Your Old Number When You Get a New One?

When you receive a new phone number, what happens to your old one? Your old phone number is frequently recycled by mobile carriers and given to a different person. Telecom providers do this to prevent number depletion; however, it poses a risk to the users who previously possessed the numbers.

Deactivation Period

The deactivation period is when a user disconnects their phone number. Service providers must wait at least 90 days before issuing a disconnected number to a new user and 90 days before permanently disconnecting a number.

Recycling Process

The phone provider no longer has a direct way to assist you in getting the number back if it is recycled.

How To Find Your Old Phone Number

Here are six ways to find your old phone number:

  1. Examine your past phone bills.
  2. Review your prior tax records.
  3. Check every old email.
  4. Scan through your old bank information or credit reports.
  5. Ask your family or friends.
  6. Review old membership details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Get My Old Phone Number Back?

Depending on your area's recycling timeframe, you may or may not get your old number back. When a phone number is deactivated, it returns to a pool of available numbers from which anybody can purchase it. If your service provider has not allocated your old number to anyone, you can ask them to reactivate it. However, if someone registered your deactivated old phone number under their name, you might not be able to get that number back.

Can I request a specific phone number?

Yes, you can request a particular phone number from Community Phone. Support will help you get another number close to your preferred number if the desired number is unavailable.

Can a deactivated number be reactivated?

Yes, you may revive your old number if it was deactivated for justifiable reasons by simply giving the required information and filing for number ownership. If the number is still available, your service provider will reactivate it for you.

How to check if my old phone number is available?

The best way to check if your old phone number is available is to call Community Phone at (781)-516-7999 and they will be able to tell you. To check if the number is still active, you can also call, text, or send a WhatsApp message.

Conclusion

If your old number has been deactivated for some reason and you want to reclaim it, you can follow the steps outlined above.

Save yourself the hassle of going through a tedious process only to discover your number has been recycled. Contact Community Phone, get a new number as close to your old one as possible, and enjoy the many features of their landline service.

Upgrade your landline service today
Check your address for coverage