Here in Oklahoma you actually pay a monthly fee, to be able to do this. No, it is not optional.

Moni

Ritamay, that's exactly what we did. We haven't had a land line for a couple of years. We would have done it sooner if we had known you could put your home # on your cell. This is the # we had had for 38 years and they transferred it to my cell with no additional cost. DH has his own cell # which is great b/c it cut down on the # of calls I have to answer. If you have cell phones there's no reason to have a home phone, unless you need it for your internet, which we didn't. It's saved us a bunch of money plus you never miss a call!

Well, this is for my 87 year old dad, and 76 year old mom....they are getting ready to move into an assisted living place, and have had their same number for over 40 years. They have AT&T, they said it can't be transffered, so I was wondering if any other phone company would let them keep the number, and I would switch to them.

Unfortunately, they don't want a cell phone.

My paraents had AT&T when they moved & kept their same #, but that was yrs ago! I'd check again & ask for a supervisor!

Good luck, Donna (^_^)

My uncle kept his number when he moved into assisted living. Of course, it was in the same area code.
Kathy G in MI

It all depends on where they are moving to.

You can keep the same number if you are still in the area having the same switching station. If not, you have to get a new number. It just make sense. It is the same for area codes. If you move out of your area code you have to get a new number.

So if your number is 123-456-7890 and you move to an area with a different area code that is not '123' then you have to get a new number of course. If you move to an area with different prefixes that does not offer '456' then you must get a new number. They have strict borders for switching stations. I used to move and keep my number all the time and then one time just moving two blocks put me into a whole new switching station.

I do not understand why they would be against a cell phone? Not only would they use it at home they can take it with them. They make simple ones like the Jitterbug phone that have been designed for seniors who do not want all the complicated stuff like cameras with their phone.

If they do not like the "feel" of a cell phone in their hands you can get them one of these:

{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Jitterbug

Rita, your folks must have spoken to someone who is new, or who obviously isn't familiar with the Federal Communications Commission's ruling on local number portability.

If your folks are staying within the same geographical area (basically, the same area code) they can most definitely transfer their current home landline number to a new landline at the assisted living facility. They also have the option to transfer the current landline number to a new wireless phone.

Below is a link to an informational page on the FCC website. Please read it -- and you may need to be the person to call AT&T for your folks.

Here is a link that might be useful: Keeping Your Telephone Number

When my Mother went into Assisted Living they had to have a phone, not a cell phone. The reason being they had some sort of alarm system that went to the phone. They had to wear a necklace with the alarm.

Sue

Thanks for the link Lindsey, but I'm still not sure if it is talking about land lines. I see it mentions it in the first paragraph at the top of the article, but it doesn't address it again.
I think I need to find out what company services the area that they are moving to, and call them. Maybe they can help me out
Oh, and I did call for them...I wouldn't make them go thru that!! LOL!! The people (at least at AT&T..but it's probably all of them) were SOOOOO annoying!! First, they barely spoke english, and then they kept trying to get my info to switch to them...offering all their services, etc....Bugged the heck out of me!!
Thanks again!!

Having worked in telecommunications for 30 years, dilly-dally has it right.

You can keep the same number if you are still in the area having the same switching station.
There are defined lines as to what area a switching station (central office) serves. At the edges of the area, one neighbor might be served by one switching station (central office) and the neighbor next door will have to have a different prefix and be getting their land line service from a different switching station (central office). These boundary lines are on file with the FCC.

From the link lindsey provided:
If you are moving from one geographic area to another, however, you may not be able to take your number with you.

It might be too that some 'other' company is providing telephone service to the assisted living complex, in which case they would be the ones determining what numbers could be used.

A while back I was looking in my Verizon Directory for the # of Lowes in a community about 30 miles away. They must have their service from some 'other' company as they were not listed and in finding their # on line, it was some off the wall #, and not Verizon's.

hth.

Sue

Yes, I was going to mention what Chemocurl said too.

Some large apartment complexes have their own "system". I once moved into a very large complex - fifteen buildings each having 60-100 units. I was told when I signed my lease something like "We are a blah-blah (name of phone company) phone community here. Just so you know". I did not understand at the time what they meant. I think it means something like they have their own switching station. It may have to do with having the fire alarms and security features to the units all hooked up to one central system. Maybe someone can explain it better?