Expert: DebiN - 12/8/2010

Question
I recently moved from CT to RI, my AT&T cell phone number is a CT number.  I am trying to merge 2 mobile AT&T numbers onto a family plan, mine (with the CT number) and my boyfriend's with a RI number.  They are telling me we can't because I'm in the NY district and he's in the Boston District, even though we both have the same billing address, they are telling us that I will have to change my phone number.  If there a way to transfer my plan to the Boston district and keep the same phone number and AT&T and then merge the numbers?

Answer
I would love to be able to tell you that you could merge your two accounts together and not have to change your number, but unfortunately, what AT&T told you is correct. For a consumer, there is not a way to merge together two numbers that are from different areas. It's not about the billing address, it's about the actual phone number. For businesses, AT&T can do this, but not for consumers. Your choice is to keep the accounts separate or change your number. What they are telling you is true. If either of you could create a business account, then you could keep your numbers, but as long as you are on a consumer account, I'm afraid that you have no choice. All you need for a business account is a taxpayer ID that validates that you are a business. Most of the carriers work this way with the exception of T-Mobile, I believe. Thanks.