You're on the phone trying to figure out an error with a credit account when you're asked to share your cell phone number for "verification purposes." The problem is that the company has your old cell phone number on file and you can't remember what it was. Here's what you need to do to find your old cell phone number.
Places to Look for Your Old Cell Phone Number
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Step 1
Check your old tax records. If you have used your cell phone for business purposes but haven't expensed the costs, you may have included past cell phone bills as write-offs in your tax records from previous years.
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Step 2
Scan old emails. Most of the larger email companies like Google and Yahoo keep your sent mail on their servers for up to 3 or 4 years. You may have emailed your cell phone number to someone during that time. Type the area code of your old cell phone number into the search box to limit the number of returned results.
Step 3
Power up your old phones. If you are someone who saves old cell phones for a rainy day, this is that day. Power up each old phone and look under the "Settings" section to see what your number was on that particular phone.
Step 4
Ask your parents and friends. Your mom and dad probably have every phone number you've ever used written in an ancient address book. Your friends may also have your old number in their phones or may be able to access old phone records in which they called you on your old cell number.
Step 5
Check your local gym. If you signed up for a contract at your gym during the same time period as you owned your previous cell phone, you probably used that phone number when you signed the contract.
Step 6
Check your credit report. Your previous addresses and phone numbers are often listed in the "Identity" section of your credit report.