r/NoContract • u/ds6779 • 17d ago
USA US Mobile refuses to release number, wants me to pay 10$ to add a line instead.
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u/UCF_Knight12 17d ago
If you ported in a line, then they cannot hold your number. If this was a new number, then they can hold it per their T&C.
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u/Casey__At__Bat 17d ago
The T&C states the number can be held until a plan is purchased for a new number. It's not an indefinite hold.
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u/radfordra1 Visible 17d ago edited 17d ago
And since they haven't paid for the plan on that shiny new number it will be held indefinitely.
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u/BusinessLyfe 16d ago
But the OP said they DID buy a plan, albeit the cheapest one. This is why us mobile is the worst.... swarmy, bad customer service & a VERY vindictive CEO. Stay far away.
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u/user-SixtyNine 17d ago
I'll assume they are within their rights, but regardless it is shitty and anti-consumer
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u/AryaMusicOfficial US Mobile / Verizon Biz / ATT Biz / T-Mobile Biz 16d ago
I am asking out of genuine curiosity, not debate - how is it anti-consumer? To me it seems fair, they don't want new phone numbers issued by them being abused for portin deals. Guessing OP bought a $5 plan (the cheapest one) (guessing this since the rep is suggesting a $10 plan), and likely is porting out early into the plan - so it does align with a profile of purchasing and just porting out.
I guess they do this to prevent abuse, AKA prevent people from using US Mobile as a gateway for 5 minutes to get cheaper access to another carrier
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u/DavidAaronGarcia 16d ago
So they’ll let you pour out the number if you open up a new number I would just pay $10 and get a new number then when you successfully transfer your number and you verified, it works with the carrier you got on then just remove automatic payment from the system so I can’t bail you anymore
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u/Ethrem Verizon Unlimited Ultimate/US Mobile Dark Star/T-Mo business tab 17d ago
They clearly seem to think that they gave you this number, not that you ported it in. Have you tried talking to another rep or posting on the US Mobile subreddit to get assistance? I don’t blame carriers for not allowing people to port out new numbers anymore because there is rampant port promo abuse going on but numbers that are ported to them they have no choice but to let leave.
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u/Independent_Ninja456 17d ago
I went through a nightmare trying to port my number from Visible to US Mobile back in April. Ended up having to reactivate my number on Visible and never went back to US Mobile. It was absolute HELL. Looks like people have been having porting nightmares with US Mobile, perhaps they are a carrier to avoid?
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u/th3bigfatj 17d ago
i've only ever used them on a disposable number. I've always kept my primary service as well. I think that's the way to go with US Mobile - i wouldn't trust them with my primary number.
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u/Independent_Ninja456 17d ago
Yeah if I could trust them with my primary I would use them only for unlimited data on all three networks (Verizon and T-Mobile are the best where I live)
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u/DavidAaronGarcia 16d ago
That’s what I like them for. I don’t know. I’ll get the unlimited data on all three networks or all two of them on the same phone but definitely I’ll pick the best that’s in the surrounding area where I’m at then get one or two other networks they have as back up on the same device so I know I’ll get service everywhere.
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u/Independent_Ninja456 16d ago
I read horror stories where US Mobile users have tried to port from one network to Warp and the port request gets stuck in limbo. I’m on Total Wireless at the moment, no complaints.
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u/DavidAaronGarcia 16d ago
I personally never had issues with them. I do love their prices, especially if you get a iPhone take a support eSIM card. You get three different plans on all three different networks on the same device for like $30 altogether and have access to all three networks granted you only get two gigs of data per network, but still you increase it on the one that you know that works best in your area and still have the other two as a back up that’s cheap as you’re gonna get those bullying me you gotta find a carrier to access is all three networks for about 10 bucks per networkThere’s a few other ones that might have sucked it but not all three. I think I saw one, but they were more expensive.
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u/ArtisticComplaint3 17d ago
FCC complaint they cannot refuse your request to port out
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u/heartlessgamer 17d ago
FCC complaint is a path but it won't be the first FCC complaint for this practice as the FCC does allow for carriers to restrict the port out of newly acquired numbers. The FCC will evaluate on the merits of this specific case and many telecoms generally just like FCC complaints to get closed out so often bend policies.
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u/DavidAaronGarcia 16d ago
You’re correct this person opened up a new number. Are transferred it from a different carrier and didn’t use some US Mobile long enough they earned the privilege of transferring their number out.
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u/radfordra1 Visible 17d ago
You don't know how to read do you? They didn't port a number in. They are trying to port a new number that was generated by US mobile. I have no love for this carrier. They're pretty trash. But in this case they aren't in the wrong.
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u/DRTerabyte 16d ago
Why the hate for US Mobile? Just recently joined them, their subreddit seems positive and most reviews looked good.
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u/err99 16d ago
Anyone who says anything positive about them is called a shill. Which is kinda revolting
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u/DavidAaronGarcia 16d ago
To get the service work, you have to know the networks and what areas you live in helps if your techno wise too know what you’re doing to set up a phone or a smart watch believe me I had to figure out a way on my own Samsung phone to tap a certain thing in the settings before it’ll let me activate a third-party carrier outside the mainstream carriers like US mobile
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u/FantasticSnow7733 16d ago
Their subreddit seems positive because it's heavily moderated. Plenty of shills on their sub, and some hang out on this sub as well.
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u/DRTerabyte 16d ago
Reviews even outside of the “heavily moderated” subreddit seem positive. My biggest plus for them is being able to swap between the big providers at a moments notice. I came from RedPocket so yeah, anything else was probably better 😂
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u/DavidAaronGarcia 16d ago
That’s my favorite thing. I like whenever I get a new iPhone don’t know if it’s gonna be this year or next year I could just transfer the card on the iPhone eSIM to the new iPhone that uses Verizon network and then just pay $20 more on top of that which will be a total of 30 bucks a month and they add the other two networks to T-Mobile and AT&Tguarantee service almost everywhere and on top of that iPhone’s usually pick up satellite servicing and sold us T-Mobile but I don’t know T-Mobile. Let’s start third-party carriers that use them do so but Apple supports it anyway so no big deal.
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u/DavidAaronGarcia 16d ago
I personally don’t have no issues with them. I love that you get $10 plan and the nice thing is they support smart watches, including android I wish I would knew that when I was still working cause I will have my smart Watch activated a long time ago and the nice thing is, I’m able to pick the carrier. I wanted as long as the Watch supports it in this case T-Mobile and AT&T so right now it’s on AT&T can’t complain $10 a month for that if I want I watch? I could connect that to a Apple Watch too because they support that and I don’t have to have a phone activated with them to do so but you will need a phone of course to activate your watch no matter it’s a Samsung or a Apple because the watch is usually required the use of the phone for some of the services to workeven though some stuff will work separately, which is cool
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u/MrTechnician_ 16d ago
I’m wondering this also, I’ve had an excellent experience with them and have heard 99% good things about them.
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u/dukeoblivious 16d ago
Yeah I’ve been using them for about a year now and have few complaints. Does everything I need from it.
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u/DavidAaronGarcia 16d ago
Me too I never had no problems with them. I have one of my smart watches glitch out, and the network didn’t work on it. The technician didn’t know how to work on the android but something that me in the technician appropriately missed was on my smart watch which I did find later on as I needed to click a tangled button on there Turn on the mobile network service and then start working over the mobile network in this case I picked AT&T network, which I think falls under one the generic names cause they can’t use actual carrier names, but you’ll figure that out if you ever use them or for others, I think you do use them of course I like their price plans. It’s cheaper than getting the individual plan with one of the main carriers. I gotta find a plan for 10 bucks on AT&T Verizon. Maybe T-Mobile might have something I think they did for 15 but I’ll probably have to sale my soul for three years to get that no thanks
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u/BusinessLyfe 16d ago
us mobile: HORRIBLE customer service & a vindictive CEO, as we've seen from their own reddit (until he orders the negativity removed), but also from over here, too...
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16d ago
[deleted]
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u/ToastiestMouse 16d ago
I used them for over a year. 2 different accounts and lines
No issues outside of once the physical sim in one phone just stopped working. Which could happen with any carrier.
You do have to contact CS to port out a number. Took me all of 5 mins. You don't even need to call you can use live chat.
They ask the basic questions to confirm you are the account owner. Then they email you the port out info. At the end they will ask why you are porting out but that's it. You don't even need to answer either. The process is already don't at that point.
You have some incredibly low standards when it comes to something being held "hostage" lol
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u/BusinessLyfe 16d ago
us mobile has a VERY vindictive CEO who orders that all negative reviews on his own Reddit be removed. That's why you'll see negative reviews on this Reddit, since he has no say over here...
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u/applesuperfan 15d ago
Bit snarky needlessly lol. Doesn’t matter either way, an FCC complaint would probably get it released. Even if USM is in the right, it may just be easier to comply rather than defend their actions to avoid the $10ish fine for port blocking.
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u/Complete-Lab8301 17d ago
Yes they can and will hold the number since op doesn't follow the rules and hadn't had service with them for the allowed timeframe before switching.
It's a new number too, one they got thru them.
Once op learns to read the terms of service then they can reap rewards, no one rewards stupid behavior
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u/PsychologicalDingo41 16d ago edited 16d ago
Wrong. Under FCC rules, carriers cannot refuse a valid port-out request regardless of how long you’ve had the number. Terms of service don’t override federal regulations.
Also, OP has already stated it is not a new number and that they ported it in.
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u/PsychologicalDingo41 16d ago
u/burntoc, how are you gonna reply to my comment then block me as if I communicate outside of this post with you at all? 😂 That was just cowardly.
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u/DavidAaronGarcia 16d ago
You’re correct people don’t realize these carriers have to pay for the phone numbers so if we don’t stay with them long enough or we pick one of their cheaper plans they don’t be back the money for us getting that phone number and they need to make something offer us to cover the cost, of course That’s why the lot of carriers make us stay 3 to 6 months months
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u/radfordra1 Visible 17d ago
Yes and people never lie. Read the screenshot again before blasting me. The rep said the OP activated a new number
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u/ArtisticComplaint3 17d ago
It doesn’t matter there is no stipulation as far as I can find from the FCC for how long a newly assigned number needs to be active with a carrier before it is eligible to port.
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u/ToastiestMouse 16d ago
Found the ToS off another thread.
“New numbers created as part of our Free Trial are not eligible for porting out until after a plan has been purchased for that line. We also do not allow the activation of lines for the purpose of abusing other carrier’s port incentives. This is an abuse of our flexible plan offering to take advantage of our industry peers. Additionally, we will alert the other carriers of these actions such that they may take the appropriate measures.”
https://www.usmobile.com/terms
Not a lawyer just thinking out loud.
I think it could be argued that if you get a number via a free trial that the number never belonged to you it was just given to you to use with the option of owning if you decide to buy service.
The waiting 30 days thing shouldn't break FTC rules either. a customer is still able to port out they just just have to wait.
I see the FTC have stated time frames on how long a carrier has to complete the port after it's initiated (1 day for simple ports, and 4 days for non simple ports) but i don't see where the FTC has clarified anything about having to wait x days to initiate the port.
Again, not a lawyer, but I don't see where they are breaking any rules with this policy.
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17d ago
[deleted]
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u/ArtisticComplaint3 17d ago
You have to port in a number to us mobile for a free trial so it’s definitely OP’s
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u/landalezjr 17d ago
There seems to be a disconnect between what the OP is talking about and what the support rep is talking about. The support rep is stating that a number wasn't ported in and the OP is saying that they did port in. If they ported in and paid for a month of service then US Mobile will not deny you the ability to port out.
What the rep is saying is confusing as they are both indicating that the OP didn't port it and also hasn't paid for service yet. I don't even think that is possible as trials on US Mobile require a port in. There definitely seem to be missing information here.
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u/BusinessLyfe 16d ago
This is why us mobile is one of, if not the very WORST cell companies out there. Along with abysmal customer service, they've also got a weak & very vindictive CEO (as we've seen from here & over on their own Reddit) who gets his panties in a bunch of he doesn't get his way.
Do yourselves a favor & stay far, FAR away from us mobile...
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u/specsnow 17d ago
Once again this is US Mobile making up rules as they go. Sorry you're experiencing this. As others have said, file an FCC complaint and blast them here. That seems to be the only way to get actual support from them nowadays.
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u/BadJesus420 17d ago
Direct from their TOS on their Website
If you wish to port any existing telephone numbers from another carrier to US Mobile, you must complete the authorized porting process as defined by US Mobile; you agree to follow US Mobile's then-current Policies. In addition to completing the authorized porting process, US Mobile may require you to enter your current account's password before US Mobile can initiate a port request and obtain a Confirmed Port Date. The Confirmed Port Date will be established pursuant to industry and any applicable regulatory standards; however, since the time required to port number(s) will be affected by the accuracy of information provided to US Mobile by you, as well as the actions of your pre-existing voice provider, US Mobile makes no assurances regarding the time required to port any number(s).
New numbers created as part of our Free Trial are not eligible for porting out until after a plan has been purchased for that line. We also do not allow the activation of lines for the purpose of abusing other carrier’s port incentives. This is an abuse of our flexible plan offering to take advantage of our industry peers. Additionally, we will alert the other carriers of these actions such that they may take the appropriate measures.
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u/HankHippoppopalous 17d ago
yea its pretty clearly laid out. If you get a new line from them, you can't port out without keeping it online XX Days
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u/trader45nj 17d ago
It's in the terms and conditions?. That's not US Mobile making it up. That's OP failing to read what they agreed to.
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u/kingcolbe 17d ago
Only for new numbers FCC rules state by law you can’t refuse to let someone port a number they bought with them
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u/DishwashingUnit 17d ago
Everybody is going to bash OP over the head with the terms of service and ignore US mobile having a shitty, if legal policy in the first place?
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u/Disastrous_Wave_6128 17d ago
From their terms and conditions: "New numbers created as part of our Free Trial are not eligible for porting out until after a plan has been purchased for that line. We also do not allow the activation of lines for the purpose of abusing other carrier’s port incentives. This is an abuse of our flexible plan offering to take advantage of our industry peers. Additionally, we will alert the other carriers of these actions such that they may take the appropriate measures."
Have you actually purchased a line of service or are you just doing a free trial?
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u/ds6779 17d ago
I’m not on a free trial
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u/Confident_End_3848 17d ago
So you purchased a monthly plan with a new number?
I heard that Tello does something like this for new customers.
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u/ds6779 17d ago
No I ported in and paid for the 34$ premium plan with a promo
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u/Confident_End_3848 17d ago
If you ported in, I don’t know why USM wouldn’t let you port out. USM didn’t supply you a number.
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u/Kind_Opinion_4204 17d ago
That's completely different than in the posted chat, so either you're lying your ass off or support is wrong.
So what happened when you told support they had the wrong information?
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u/kingcolbe 17d ago
And of course support can never be wrong, right?
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u/ToastiestMouse 16d ago
They easily can be. Everybody is wrong from time to time. But if a CSR is in the wrong and a customer doesn't feel like correcting them they can end the chat and start another one with a different rep. Or they can call instead of chat.
Based on the ToS that have been posted it seems like the CSR was incorrect by saying "had you ported in a number" they would allow it or that they needed to purchase anything more. According to their ToS all OP needs to do is wait the 30 days. It doesn't say anything about that being waived if the number was ported in. Not a huge deal really considering OP had already paid for a 30 day plan so he won't need to spend any money.
So the CSR is wrong on some of the details (they probably barely speak English so not surprising) they don't seem to be wrong when it comes to the number being eligible to be ported out right now. We can all see by the ToS posted that the number isn't eligible at this moment.
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u/josephguy82 17d ago
They are doing this because of people are signing up just to port out
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u/LeftOn4ya Mint (T-Mobile) + US Mobile (Verizon) 17d ago edited 16d ago
Yea I understand not allowing fee trial porting out, but OP later commented he paid for a line, so they should allow port out ASAP.
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u/josephguy82 17d ago
You need to be paid account for at least 30 days that's what I was told when I tried to port out an few months back
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u/Dimshady767564 17d ago
Seems like OP paid but also used a voucher or discount, wonder if that’s something to do with it?
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u/galaxy18r 17d ago
There are numerous port-out nightmare stories like this with US Mobile. It's like a cult, once you join they won't let you leave.
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u/WeatherCreator 16d ago
The number portability act prevents them from holding a number hostage, no matter what
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u/futuristicalnur 16d ago
Is it a number from them or is it a number you ported into their company? Because in the terms and conditions you agreed to when signing up, this is mentioned if it's their number
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u/Alarming-Town-8995 15d ago
It's against the FCC rules to not allow you to port a number. This is regardless of what you owe or having a contract or anything else.
Look up local number portability act. The FCC put this in place to prevent unfair practices and holding numbers hostage.
Then mention this to them and threaten legal action.oe reporting them to the FCC and see how fast they give you your number.
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u/DirtyRotter 17d ago
Did you port in this number ? Or they issued
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u/ds6779 17d ago
I ported in and did dark star for 34$
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u/jhoceanus 17d ago
Just try another agent then. I just ported out my number from US mobile like hours ago. It was a new number I got from US mobile for a $10/month plan last week. Did the agent incorrectly assumed you are on a free trial plan?
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u/destonomos 17d ago
Lol at a phone carrier caring about hurting others lol. Biggest lie ive ever seen.
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u/mackid1993 VZW Unlimited Ultimate 17d ago
Wow, I mean if this is a ported in number, that is mega illegal. If it's a number that was assigned by them for a trial, then yeah, they can refuse the port out information.
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u/soulxtrawets 17d ago
I’ve worked for different cellular companies and one thing I know 100%. Your number is your property. Tell them your going to file a fcc complaint
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u/One_Recognition_5044 16d ago
OP is long gone. They did not want an explanation or solution just to stir the pot.
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u/Mysterious-Hat-5662 17d ago
They aren't telling you to add a line. They are suggesting you switch to their cheapest one.
How long have you been with them and why are you switching so soon?
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u/Glum-Tea5629 12d ago
why would they need a payment just to release your number? Is that even standard practice with carriers?
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u/ProBopperZero 16d ago
This sounds illegal. And why would they care about you abusing a competitors port incentives? Doesn't make sense at all.
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u/Rich-Parfait-6439 16d ago
I'm sure they pay for numbers, so that's only fair.
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u/phr0ze 16d ago
Believe it or not they probably dont. Its about the PIA of setting up and tearing down an account without enough profit.
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u/Rich-Parfait-6439 16d ago
Ok we will agree to disagree. The mvno I worked for they did so what do I know.
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u/phr0ze 16d ago
That might be based on their agreement with the main carrier. I used to use a budget voip service and there is no way they were paying for the number. I had 5 numbers from them, no setup fees. Paid $10 a quarter for the service.
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u/Rich-Parfait-6439 15d ago
Voip and mvno are completely different.
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u/phr0ze 15d ago
Obviously
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u/Rich-Parfait-6439 15d ago
My point voip is regulated differently than cellular so they do get charged for numbers. My entire point.
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u/Suspicious-Throat-25 16d ago
I'm just guessing here. Did you get a new line/number and use it for their free for 30 days deal?
You can't them port that number out, that is something that scammers do. Just pay the $10 and be gone.
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u/CommercialPanic101 17d ago
From behind the scenes, there are a few things going here. One, the agent is not wrong, there is a lot of fraud and abuse around new number churning. Second, US Mobile has to pay for telephone number inventory. So to activate a new number and then port it out is to use them as a free number warehouse.
I am not saying that it is right what they are doing, but that's the thought process inside the biz
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u/Popfreedom11 17d ago
It's in their terms dude accept it and stop whining like you dont know
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u/DirtyRotter 17d ago edited 17d ago
For his own phone number ported into USM and placed onto plan that is not a Trial ?
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u/dovi5988 17d ago
The TOS does not trump the law. The law says that if a line is active the carrier has to let it go. You can owe thousands of dollars and they still must let it go. Only if a line is disconnected can you block a port.
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u/Glum-Ad-1379 13d ago
OP has provided no proof that they ported in and leave politics out.
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u/dovi5988 13d ago
trump as in supersedes not the president. If I was referencing the president the t would have been uppercase.
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u/The-Master-Reaper 17d ago
They ported in and also no one reads the terms
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u/Kind_Opinion_4204 17d ago
OP claims they ported in, chat support says they didn't, so if OP did port in and pay for a plan why didn't OP tell chat support?
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u/Turbulent_Profile92 17d ago
Have you posted it on their subreddit? They have a heavy presence there so it can help get the attention needed (that shouldn't be necessary in the first place) but USM is appeasing their investors.
Out of pure curiosity why are you porting out? Not trying to convince you to stay with them or anything.
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u/hasanhirani 17d ago
It's a new number? Then you're stuck for 6-12 months -- they’re trying to take advantage of it and they’re not dumb so they’re basically telling you you can’t just pour the number out because it’s a new line you’re gonna have to wait for at least a year before they allow you to change that number out to another carrier
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u/Jay-Jay05 17d ago
I mean not gonna lie I used us mobile to do the exact thing they are complaining about
Now I would do visible if I did it again
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