How to leave Verizon after contract ends - taking with me the phone number?

Question

My contract is about to end - Nov. 5 - and I want to port the number over to an entirely new phone, which will use Straight Talk.
Do I let the contract expire, then port the number? Or do I port the number first, then let it expire? It's not clear whatsoever. If I port it before, then I risk an early termination fee (ETF) unless I clear it with them first. I'd rather let it expire, then port the number over, eliminating any risk of ETF. But if I do that, will my number be lost? or is there some kind of grace period when I can still port my old number out?

Answer 1

Hopefully more people will find this thread Googling around.  My phone transfer was made but my online Verizon account indicated my phone was "Suspended."  Calling customer service was a joke.  Mind you, my question was simple: "Will I owe Verizon any more $"  and "What does suspended mean.  Answers: "yes," and I never got an answer for number two. 
So, here I am paying 65% more for Verizon and now they're coming after a pre-paid two weeks of service plus another bill cycle....  You can't imagine how many pieces of cranium I had to pull form the ceiling.  Further, the Customer Service Rep was so poorly trained, she didn't know that "paid in full" means "paid in advance."  To her, I was going to pay for 6 weeks of service whether I liked it or not.  She told me it was due to my new provider canceling my account to late in the billing cycle.  Which made no sense to anyone who's been through this process before.  As long as it's switched within a current month, there is no new invoice for the upcoming bill cycle.  So, I did the math of the situation, realized the CS Rep was wrong, questioned her logic, and then asked for a supervisor.  The other thing that was weird, CS would not give me an explanation in writing other than snail mail!  She couldn't email and was not authorized to give written data to customers.  Who the H#ll uses snail mail anymore?    I was told it would be 45 minutes before I could speak with a supervisor and they'd call me.....  Still waiting!  Almost Two hours later!  Tells you how many mad customers Verizon has or how much they actually care about their customers!
I finally called my new provider and looked at that account on-line and sure enough, the CS Rep lied to place blame on my new carrier or was clueless of Verizon's non pro-rate policy.  So, I called their CS department again and had someone with a brain at the other end of the line who explained it the way I understood it.  She also told me it was not my new provider!  My comment back was, "That's the way I thought it worked.  You guys do a horrible job training your reps and thanks."  I will not receive another months bill.....  What a joke.  They created all of that aggravation due to their lack of training or dishonest employees.
My point is this:  The above is the reason I'm leaving Verizon.  For the over priced service, they should be honest, train their Customer Service Reps so we customers do not get angry (they might save a few customers that way), and prorate billing cycles by rounding out to the next week.  The reason I bring this up is I'm saving 65% by switching and, yes, that's a real number...  I had to prepay my first bill.  And, there's no hissing in the connection......  Way better deal!
>>Edited to comply with the Verizon Wireless Terms of Service <<
Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator