> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.brilo.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# I cannot buy or change a number

> Fixes for Brilo numbers that will not buy, countries that are unavailable, numbers that do not reach your agent, and numbers you cannot release.

Most number problems are one of three things: availability in the area code you searched, a payment that
did not go through, or a number that bought correctly but was never attached to an agent. The first two
happen before the purchase, the third after it.

## Start here

| What is happening                                 | Go to                                                                                                   |
| ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| No numbers available in my area code              | [No numbers available in my area code](#no-numbers-available-in-my-area-code)                           |
| The country I want is not available               | [The country I want is not available](#the-country-i-want-is-not-available)                             |
| Buying failed or was declined                     | [Buying failed or was declined](#buying-failed-or-was-declined)                                         |
| I bought a number but calls do not reach my agent | [I bought a number but calls do not reach my agent](#i-bought-a-number-but-calls-do-not-reach-my-agent) |
| My imported number still rings my old phone       | [My imported number still rings my old phone](#my-imported-number-still-rings-my-old-phone)             |
| I cannot release a number                         | [I cannot release a number](#i-cannot-release-a-number)                                                 |

## No numbers available in my area code

**Why this happens.** Availability comes from the carrier and changes daily. A popular city area code can
be empty one morning and have numbers by the afternoon.

**Fix it.** Search a neighbouring area code, or another city in the same region. To your customers a
number from the next town reads as local, which is usually good enough.

**Still stuck.** Try again later in the day before assuming it is permanent, and tell
[support@brilo.ai](mailto:support@brilo.ai) which area code you need if nothing appears at all.

## The country I want is not available

**Why this happens.** Some countries require documents or a local presence before numbers can be sold
there, and a few are not available at all.

**Fix it.** See [Change your country or region](/phone-numbers/change-your-country-or-region) for what
each country needs. If yours needs documents, that is a one time step rather than a block.

**Still stuck.** If you already own a number in that country, importing it avoids the purchase
restriction entirely. See [Use your existing number](/phone-numbers/use-your-existing-number).

## Buying failed or was declined

**Why this happens.** The payment did not complete. A declined card does not hold the number, so it stays
available to everyone else while you sort it out.

**Fix it.** Check the card on your billing page, then buy again. Search fresh rather than retrying the
same number, which may have gone.

**Still stuck.** If your card is fine and the purchase still fails, send support the time of the attempt
and the number you tried.

## I bought a number but calls do not reach my agent

**Why this happens.** A number does nothing on its own. It has to be attached to an agent, and that agent
has to be live on a paid plan.

**Fix it.** Open the agent, go to **Deployment**, and check the number is attached. See
[Turn your agent on](/go-live/turn-your-agent-on).

**Still stuck.** Ring the number yourself. If it rings and nothing answers, see
[My agent is not answering](/calls/my-agent-isnt-answering).

## My imported number still rings my old phone

**Why this happens.** You forwarded rather than imported, and the forwarding has not taken effect, or the
import did not finish.

**Fix it.** For forwarding, check the setting saved at your provider and that it points at your Brilo
number. For an import, confirm every step completed. See
[Import a phone number from Twilio](/integrations/telephony/twilio/import-number).

**Still stuck.** Some providers forward only after a set number of unanswered rings. Check whether yours
is set to forward always.

## I cannot release a number

**Why this happens.** Numbers are usually still attached to an agent, and releasing one that is in use
would stop calls without warning.

**Fix it.** Detach the number from the agent in **Deployment**, then delete it from your phone numbers
list.

**Still stuck.** Remember a released number cannot be recovered and may be taken by someone else, so keep
any number you have advertised even if it is idle.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Why are there no numbers in my area code?">
    Availability comes from the carrier and changes daily, so an empty area code in the morning may have
    numbers later. Search a neighbouring area code in the meantime: to customers it still reads as local.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why did my purchase fail?">
    The payment did not complete. Check your card on the billing page, then search again rather than
    retrying the same number, since a declined purchase does not reserve it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why does my new number not ring my agent?">
    Because it is not attached to an agent yet, or the agent is not live. Attach it in the **Deployment**
    tab and confirm you are on a paid plan, then ring it yourself.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why can I not change my country?">
    Some countries need documents or a local presence before numbers can be sold there. See
    [Change your country or region](/phone-numbers/change-your-country-or-region), and consider importing a
    number you already own in that country instead.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why can I not release my number?">
    It is probably still attached to an agent. Detach it first, then delete it. This is deliberate: it
    stops a number that is taking live calls from being released by accident.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What should I send support when nothing here works?">
    The number in question, what you were trying to do, the time you tried, and the country and area code
    you searched. That is enough to find the attempt in our records without any back and forth.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related

* [Buy a phone number](/phone-numbers/buy-a-phone-number) for the normal path
* [Use your existing number](/phone-numbers/use-your-existing-number) to forward or import instead
* [Change your country or region](/phone-numbers/change-your-country-or-region) for country limits
* [Turn your agent on](/go-live/turn-your-agent-on) to attach the number
* [My agent is not answering](/calls/my-agent-isnt-answering) if the number rings but nobody picks up
