LNP and "Copy of Phone Bill" -- documentation ques

Posts: 110 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Mar 06, 2004 Posts: 110

I just signed up for Vonage and will be porting my number.

My question is whether I should risk screwing up my documentation by using a printout of my online account with SNET / SBC, rather than waiting another three weeks until I get my next phone bill, in order to start the LNP process.

My understanding is that the documentation call is really up to the local carrier (CLEC?), rather than Vonage, so others' experiences in what constituted valid docs. would be helpful.

It seems like everyone else just had a copy of their phone bill lying around based on the dates that I've seen talked about in other threads! I really want to start the process but I'm afraid of screwing it up with incomplete or unnacceptable docs.

Any advice?

Posts: 51 · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 9:47 am Post subject:

I used a print out copy of my last bill. I don't know if it has anything to do with how long the process takes, but I have been waiting since Feb 18 with no word on when the transfer will be completed. I don't think it should make a difference since some people sign up for paperless billing and do all of their payments online. Prepare yourself for a long wait no matter what, and don't be afraid to complain and write letters if the process is taking too long. I have read horror stories on this board of 60+ day transfers. Good luck.

Posts: 47 · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2004 7:35 pm Post subject: LNP paperwork

I have SBC and used their "EBilling" I downloaded a copy of the front page of the phone bill which was about a week older than the 30 days they ask for.

They accepted it today and they are moving to the next step of the process. So I can say that the bill can be up to 5 weeks old.

I hope that helps.

Posts: 110 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Mar 06, 2004 Posts: 110

That is very helpful, actually! Thanks. Any experiences with SBC in particular are useful.

Posts: 104 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jan 31, 2004 Posts: 104

The purpose of providing a copy of your BILL is to authentic that you are indeed the OWNER of the telephone number in question. There have been a few cases of "hijacked" telephone numbers, but for the most part PORTING has gone relatively well (albeit slowly).

On the question of web print-out OR actual copy of the bill.

The official answer from any LEC is "actual copy of the bill needed". However, the decision is ultimately made by a clerk at your current telephone company making a "command" decision on whether to allow it to pass muster or not.

It is impossible for your current carrier to refute a copy of the actual bill, a website print-out is not 100% authentic and is subjective.

Posts: 47 · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 7:42 pm Post subject:

ckoehncke wrote:

The purpose of providing a copy of your BILL is to authentic that you are indeed the OWNER of the telephone number in question. There have been a few cases of "hijacked" telephone numbers, but for the most part PORTING has gone relatively well (albeit slowly).

On the question of web print-out OR actual copy of the bill.

The official answer from any LEC is "actual copy of the bill needed". However, the decision is ultimately made by a clerk at your current telephone company making a "command" decision on whether to allow it to pass muster or not.

It is impossible for your current carrier to refute a copy of the actual bill, a website print-out is not 100% authentic and is subjective.

It is an official SBC E-Bill provided by SBC. How could they think I ginned this thing up?

Posts: 110 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Mar 06, 2004 Posts: 110

Anyone can fake a printout, I agree, unless it has security features like a bar code (which probably wouldn't be readable after multiple faxes anyway).

I actually hadn't received my first ebill at the time of my original post and all I had was a print-out of my main account summary at logon. Today I rec'd my first e-bill with more detailed info and I am going to send it in. I think that should be enough for them.

I am glad to have some feedback that SBC appears to be fairly reasonable about this stuff, but it does make sense that the determination is really in some clerk's hands!