When the government gave the go-ahead to cell phone users to switch services without changing numbers, it was called a consumer victory. But after several months, a hollow victory might best describe it.

Switching cell phone carriers was supposed to take a few hours, which was revised to a couple days, and then weeks. But some people are still waiting.

“I wanted to port my number over from Sprint to Nextel,” said Evelyn Cohen. “They told me it would take two to 14 days."

Cohen’s switch was not impulsive. Family, clients from her interior design business and a promotion entered into the equation.

“My husband, my daughter and my son-in-law all have Nextel, and Nextel has a special feature where you don't have to use your minutes when you speak to someone who's connected that way,” said Cohen.

She decided to end several years of a happy relationship with Sprint. But as the song says, breaking up is hard to do. She says her continual checking with Nextel for her number to be transferred proved frustrating.

“Every time I called there, I had to speak to four or five different people, and nobody ever called me,” said Cohen.

They did, however, send her bills.

“I kept getting bills for the monthly charges, which I disputed with them every time and said, 'I’m not paying a bill until my number is supported,'” Cohen said.

And when she decided to cancel the switch to Nextel?

“They told me there was a $200 penalty because it was past the grace period and I refused to pay that, and after several days, they gave in and they canceled that, too, but I never received my money back for the equipment I purchased,” said Cohen.

So by the time she called NewsChannel 4, two options remained.

“If they told me they could do it in two days, I would consider it,” Cohen said. “Otherwise, I would like to get my money back for all the equipment, even if it's past the 15 days.”

We contacted both companies. Sprint told us: “Unusual bureaucratic problems occurred during the transfer process. These kinds of problems are fairly rare. Generally, the porting process has been going very smoothly between Sprint and the other carriers.”

Nextel has activated her service.

This particular delay involvedSprint, but we've heard complaints about many carriers.

If you are switching, plan it during a period that will be less time sensitive because you could be in for a wait.

And bring a copy of your current carrier's bill so the new carrier will have access to all your information.