Dear Editor,
I have to disagree with you on your LNP shoplifting column (Aug. 11). People will leave you and owe you money no matter if they can take their number or not. It’s being done everyday.
I stiff Carrier A because I went over my minutes and owe thousands. I just walk across the street and begin new service with Carrier B and I get more minutes for less. The phone number doesn’t matter to them because they owe big money. They take what they can get. Just because they can take their number with them doesn’t mean they’ll find someone to connect them.
Wireless carriers do credit checks to prevent this from happening.
Here’s a thing that has happened to me with my office number. I had Centrex landline service with a big telco. I left three months before the end of the 3-year contract term. They said I couldn’t leave. I said if you can match the free local LATA-wide calling area by the CLEC, I’ll stay. They said we don’t match plans and if you switch we’ll charge you an early termination fee. I told them I had no such contract with them for any early termination fee.
I left, they charged me, then reduced it. I sent the whole mess to the CPUC and it’s still not resolved after three years. I had no signed contract with them.
Anyway, if I were unable to port my number, I would be forced to change it and lose much of my 10 years of business contacts. As I’m still waiting the outcome from the CPUC, I’m still in business with my telephone number.
Michael D. Schelin
