How do I get a plan to have the correct area code?

Question

I have purchased a phone for a friend, and established Cingular as the wireless phone company. She lives in one state Al., the shipping address . I live in another state Ca. the billing address.

I have learned that her area code will be where the billing address is. I must have her area code in Al to be assigned to the phone. Does anyone know how I can accomplish this?

Answer 1

It's fairly easy to change the phone number to her area code. All you need to do is call Cingular customer service and ask them to change the phone number to her area code. When a customer's information is recorded in their system they are able to define the usage area separate from the billing address. This is done for instance for college students that go away from home and have their bill sent to college, but their area code at home so their parents/friends can call them. If when you are calling customer service you have problems getting the rep to understand you ask for the relocation department and explain your situation to them, they deal with it all the time.

Answer 2

I'm not 100% positive about Cingular, but my Sprint phone has a chicago area code, and a NE billing address. I live in NE but all my family is in Chicago, I wanted it to not be LD if they called me. I just had to have a national plan (vs. local) or I would always be roaming or out of area.