Remove Alternate Number Field in porting request form

[computergeek541]

We've seen a few situations in which Public Mobile has mistakenly ported in the alternate phone number by mistake due to some strange website or port processing error.

The alternate number is only supposed to be a contact number for Public Mobile to call should there be a porting problem.  Public doesn't actually call the customer after a failed port (at least not usually), so my suggestion is for Public Mobile to just remove it from the port in number request form.  It's doing more harm than good.

[stonechucker]

I do not know how this can happen.  Databases don't just pick and choose on their own.  If the alternate number was ported, it was 99% probably a user error.

[srlawren]

@computergeek541 I agree with @stonechucker that it was likely user error.  

However, to your suggestion:  I think it's a great idea as I've never ever heard of anyone being contacted by PM via their alternate number for a porting issue.  However, just thinking this through a bit further....  I'm thinking the reason it is on the form and a required field, is likely that it's a required field when sending the port request to the previous provider to process.  I have no idea what's in the spec that all the carriers have written to for number porting, but I'd make a semi-educated guess that alternate contact phone number is in there, and a required field.  So, even though PM will probably never ever use it, they probably need to collect it to send through to your old carrier.  Again, just speculation.  If this is not the case, then yes I'm 100% in favour of removing it!

[daredogg]

To address this... I think the porting request form should adjust to the requirements of each carrier for a successful port. Some carriers, just having the name on the account and the account number is sufficient. Others, the IMEI should be included. It would be great if on the form, you first chose who you are porting from, and then only the fields needed for the port are shown. If that means eliminating the alternate phone number, great... if it's still required, then at least put a better description of what the alternate phone number is!

[srlawren]

@daredogg that would make a lot of sense if in fact the requirements vary from carrier to carrier. I'm not entirely sure if that is the case, or if there is a standard set of required fields for all. In guessing probably the latter.