Twenty five years and change

I've not changed for the last twenty five years, my mobile phone number I mean; I've never put any thought into changing it...until last week when not only did I put thought into it, I put action into it as well.

My reason for changing phone number is private but I can talk about the process which, initially was pretty simple. Go to phone shop, buy new sim card and phone. The end.

Afterwards it got a little complicated though.

Phone numbers are used for all sorts of things of course, including two-step authentication and I had to go through the process of getting things set up with the new phone number.

Fortunately, I kept my original number (which I have got in the new "cheap" phone, a Samsung A35, I bought when I got the new sim card). The new number is in my Samsung S22 Ultra, my personal phone. Retaining number made the process of swapping the two-step authentication (and other things) over really easy as I could identify myself with it in each case. It wasn't so simple with some one of my contacts.

Each of my contacts, a few hundred of them, received a text message from my new number stating it was me, a new number, and that the old/original number was still mine if they wanted to send a message to verify it was indeed me. I thought that'd give people confidence that I was me and not a scammer out to steal their billions! Most accepted it and all was good; some, including one of my brothers, messaged me on the old number asking if it was me; I responded and that was that. One, however, wasn't at all satisfied that it was me from my new or old number.

The person challenged who I was and didn't want to accept that, even though I'd sent a text message from the original number, it was actually me. I suggested the person ask me a question they'd know only I would know the answer to, as a verification but there was still doubt and suspicion; ok, fair enough, one must be cautious.

I didn't have the time or patience for it so indicated they could accept my multiple attempts at verifying myself or I'd simply move on without them as a contact; that did the trick. I guess because they knew I meant what I said and would simply move on writing them off altogether, it's typically me. I don't have time for fuckassery.

I had less trouble verifying myself to my banks, superannuation fund, the government for Medicare, drivers license, tax office and my other licensing, doctors, medical centres, health and other insurers and so on than I did with that person and it's ok I guess, people need to be cautious I suppose, but it was a pain in the ass and I don't have much patience for that sort of thing. Fortunately it was sorted out.

I still have a few places to notify about my change of number and will get to it over time, but I wonder if you've ever changed your phone number after having it for a long time and, if you have, how did it go?