You somehow lost your telephone number or deleted it and you're wondering if you can get it back.
Whether your number was with NumberBarn or NumberGarage or a different service provider, it's important to understand that carriers typically do not release numbers back to some sort of public pool so you can secure the number with another carrier or service provider. They are more likely to put the number into some sort of cooling period for a time before assigning it to another subscriber.
That said, let's look at a couple of different scenarios.
Scenario #1 - I lost my NumberBarn or NumberGarage
If your number was deleted from your account because of an unpaid balance or perhaps you canceled it and are having second thoughts, it may be possible to restore it. Check-in with our support team for eligibility and any associated costs.
Scenario #2 - I lost my number that was with another carrier
If your number was with a different carrier or service provider, here are some things you can do to try to recover it:
Check-in with your previous carrier
You may have had that number for years and years. But, when you cancel your service or delete the number, you relinquish the number and it no longer belongs to you. Some providers may have a short window of time in which you can restore the number. Be sure to check with that provider to learn more.
The numbers don't get returned to a universal pool of numbers
Just because you delete your number or your number is inactive, it doesn’t mean that you can go grab that number from any provider. Phone numbers are managed by carriers. Not all service providers use the same carrier. If you delete a number with one provider, you can’t expect it to be available with a different provider.
If you don't remember your provider, check here
Phone numbers are held by carriers. The carrier of a number may not necessarily be the actual service provider. If you don’t remember what provider you had, you can at least start by searching to find the underlying carrier of the number. There are many options out there (a Google search returns a variety of websites), but you can use FreeCarrierLookup.com for a quick and easy solution. Once you know the name of the carrier, you can reach out to see if they’ll guide you to the provider.
What You Can Do Right Now
Search for the carrier of the number and give them a call. They may be able to restore your number. Once restored, you can port to us by clicking one of the following links:
For NumberBarn customers, you can start your porting request here:
https://www.numberbarn.com/lnp
For NumberGarage customers, you can start your porting request here:
https://app.numbergarage.com/basket
What if someone else has the number now? Can you get it for me?
While we can do some pretty cool things at NumberBarn, we do not have any special backchannels to get a number for you that is either owned by someone else or housed at a carrier we don't directly work with.
If you really want a specific number, it's never a bad idea to call the number and, if someone answers, ask them if they are willing to transfer it to you. If no one answers or the number is clearly out of service, you may wish to set your sights on a different number.
We have millions of numbers to choose from and the following guide will lead you to the best number for you:
How to Find the Perfect Telephone Number
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