IMPORTANT: Before porting a phone number you must ensure there is a domain on the netsapiens portal for the number to be assigned to. See here for how to create domains.
First you want to navigate to the porting widget. How to access the porting widget.
Under "Port Orders" select "Add".
From here, select the domain you want to port a number to.
NOTE: If the domain doesn't show up in the list, click the "Sync" button then try again.
Head to the retailer tab
Click on "Edit"
TIP: If you already have a valid and signed LoA, you can click "Change to own CLoA" This will skip the parts requiring you to input information into the port and let you submit the port immediately with the LoA you already have.
You want to input the name and address of the company that currently provides services to your customer (the company that bills for the phone number you are porting).
Any address that is associated with the company will suffice, you can use the one advertised on their website, their registered company address, etc...
Once done, click "Save" at the bottom right.
Click on the "Numbers" tab.
Click on "Add Numbers".
You will be prompted by a query regarding the "Directory Option". This allows you in certain scenarios to preserve BT Phonebook entries for your customer's phone number.
Most common practice here is to select "No Directory Listing associated on these numbers" unless you are already aware of an existing listing.
If there is an existing listing on these numbers that you would like to preserve then you can choose to port this as well however this would incur extra charges.
Next you will be prompted to enter the LCP (Losing Communications Provider) for the phone number, this differs from the Retailer you entered previously in that this is the actual carrier of the phone numbers.
In many cases the LCP and Retailer will be the same company, however in cases where the retailer is reselling services from a different carrier the LCP will be different.
For example, Access4 aren't a carrier, we provide services from Gamma. In that situation Access4 would be the retailer, but Gamma would be the LCP.
If you are unsure of who the LCP is then just enter the same as the retailer (or select "Other" if they are not listed. Then click save.
Next you will be prompted to enter the number details for your port. Note that you can add more than 1 number/range to the same port.
Type
You will be given the option of one of 3 types "MBN", "Associated", and "Range".
If you are porting a single number in, select "MBN".
If you are porting multiple phone numbers then it depends on if what you are porting is a multi line or a single line.
NOTE: If you are unsure, then assume the port is single line for now, we will find out if its a multi line port during the POV process.
Single Lines
When submitting single line ports then you can simply add multiple ports labelled as "MBN" if they are non-consecutive, or if you have consecutive ranges you can select "Range". You can have any combination of MBN and Ranges. Associated numbers are for multi lines only.
Multi Lines
Multi Lines are very specific in their structure. Multiline numbers consist of single "Main Billing Number" and then numbers/ranges associated with that number. Multi Lines can only have a single MBN.
The most common setup for a multiline is a single consecutive range of numbers, where the MBN is the first number in the range. In this situation you'd want to input the MBN as it's own entry, and then the rest of the range as a "Range".
In the situation where the MBN has non consecutive numbers associated with it you can use the "Associated" type to input multiple single entries that are not the MBN
Once you've set the type, you want to pick which area code your number/range belongs to, and then under the "Number" box you want to input the rest of the number.
For example if you were porting the number "01772123123" you would select "01772" as the area code, and in the number box you would input "123123". Do not input the area code into the number box.
If you number is a range you will be asked to input a start and end number, if you do this then all numbers between the start and end number will be ported, including the start and end number.
Address
Every number ported must be associated with an address, this address must be accurate as to what the number is associated with at the carrier level. If you're unsure, then the safest option is to use the address shown on the customer's invoice for the number.
By default, the address field will show the domain address. If you have ever submitted another port or ordered a phone number for this domain, you may already see an address filled in here. If there is no address click "Edit" to add one.
When inputting the address you can enter the post code on the left hand side side and then select "Lookup". Pick the address from the list, if your customer's exact address is not shown you can pick the closest option and then manually edit the address afterwards.
If you are porting a Non Geo number then you MUST also input the "Billing Account No". Otherwise this field is not mandatory.
Lastly input the First and Last name (just input the name of the person who will be signing the LoA).
When you're done, click save.
Once you are happy with the type, number, and address, click save.
TIP: This process can be repeated multiple times for multiple numbers. If you have multiple numbers that require different physical locations you can select the "Add" button next to the Address field.
Navigate back to the summary tab.
Click on "Create LoA".
Click on Download CLoA to download a PDF copy of the LoA.
TIP: If anything the LoA is wrong and you need to go back and change something, click the "Amend" button
From here you need to send this LoA to the end customer and have them sign it (e-sign should suffice in most cases).
Please note that the Print Name, Job Title, Date, and Email fields are mandatory.
NOTE: The "Date" field is the date the form signed. It is a common mistake that the signer inputs their date of birth, this would be rejected as the CLoA is only valid for 6 months after the submitted date.
Once you have a signed copy of the form. click on "Upload Signed LoA"
It must be a PDF file. Other formats are not supported.
Click on "Choose File" under "Signed LoA" and select the signed PDF file from your computer.
Under preferred port date either input the date you want to port the number or leave the date blank to have the port be submitted for the soonest possible date.
IMPORTANT: The date you pick is not guaranteed. We will try our best to match the date given, but if the date is not available then we will pick the closest date that matchest.
On average ports date 16 working days. Picking a date earlier than this timeframe is less likely to be achievable than picking a date after it.
If you want your port to go through faster then you may elect to skip the POV process, however this comes at a higher risk of rejection if any of the information provided ends up being incorrect.
As soon as you click upload the port process will begin.