How to Fill Out and Submit the Optimum Name Change Form

To change the name on your Optimum internet, cable, or phone account, download the residential Account Name Change Form from Optimum’s support site, complete the one section on page two that fits your situation, and submit the signed form with ID and equipment information by mail or fax to Altice USA’s Shared Services office in Bethpage, New York. The Optimum name change form handles three different scenarios, and picking the wrong section is the fastest way to have your paperwork sent back.

Which Section of the Form Applies to You

Page two of the form has three sections, each with its own checkbox. Only one applies to you, and the signatures required are different for each.

Section 1 is for a legal name change when you are staying on the account yourself, after a marriage or court-ordered name change. Only you sign.
Section 2 is for a surviving spouse taking over the account when the account holder has died and you share the same last name. Only the surviving spouse signs.
Section 3 is for transferring the account to a different person entirely, with checkboxes for roommate, divorce, deceased family member takeover (not spouse), and other. The current account holder and the new account holder both fill in their information and sign.

The distinction people miss: Section 2 is reserved for a surviving spouse with the same last name. Any other relative taking over after a death uses Section 3.

What to Gather Before You Start

Missing even one of these items will get the whole packet rejected.

Account Number and Service Address

Your account number is printed at the top of every page of your monthly bill, and it appears at the top of the screen when you sign in at optimum.net/pay-bill/.¹ You also need the full installation address, including city, state, and zip code.

Social Security Number or a Photo ID

The form asks for the new account holder’s Social Security number. If you would rather not provide it, enclose a photocopy of one of these instead:²

Current driver’s license
Passport
Federal or state-issued ID
Military ID
Green card

If the ID you send does not show your current address, you also need to enclose a photocopy of your mortgage agreement, lease, or a current utility bill proving you live at the service address.² This address-proof document is what most people forget.

Equipment Serial or MAC Numbers

Page three requires at least one identifying number from the Optimum equipment at your address. Cable boxes and Altice One devices need a Serial number, CA S/N, or MAC number. Modems need a CMAC or HFC MAC number.² These numbers are printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of each device. Write them down before you sit down with the form.

You only need to fill in one of the two equipment areas on page three. If you have a cable box or Altice One, use that area. If you have modem only, use the modem area.

Filling In and Signing the Form

Page one asks for the date, account number, and service address. These apply no matter which section you check on page two.

For Sections 1 and 2, enter your new legal name, your Social Security number (or note that a photo ID is enclosed), then sign and date. For Section 3, the current account holder enters their name, phone number, and email and signs; the new account holder enters their name, Social Security number or ID note, phone, email, an optional authorized user name, and signs separately.² If the current account holder is deceased and you are checking the family member takeover box, only the new account holder signs.

Where to Send It

Mail or fax the completed form, along with any ID copies and address-proof documents, to:

Altice USA
Attn: Shared Services
1111 Stewart Ave
Bethpage, NY 11714
Fax: 516-803-1688²

You can also walk the paperwork into an Optimum retail store and hand it to a representative.³ There is no online upload option for this form. If you fax, keep the confirmation page.

How Long It Takes

Optimum states that residential name changes take approximately one to two billing cycles after they receive your paperwork, which usually works out to 30 to 60 days.² During that window, the old name may still show up on your bill. Business accounts process faster, generally within two to five business days.⁴

What Changes After the Transfer Goes Through

A Section 1 name change is mostly cosmetic since you are the same person. Section 2 and Section 3 transfers come with real consequences you should know about before signing.

Outstanding Balances Follow the Account

By signing, the new account holder assumes full responsibility for all outstanding balances on the account as of the transfer date.² Any debt the previous holder owed is now yours. Check the balance before you sign.

Email and Login Access

After the transfer, the previous account holder may lose access to any @optimum.net email addresses and My Optimum Voice records tied to the account.² If you are leaving the account, save anything you want to keep before submitting the form.

Automatic Payments Are Cancelled

Any direct payment methods on file, including online bill pay and recurring payment schedules, are automatically cancelled when the account transfers.² The new holder should set up a payment method right away to avoid a missed bill.

Promotional Pricing Carries Over

Any promotional offers active on the account continue under the same terms and conditions after the transfer.² A discount does not disappear just because the name changed.

Optimum Mobile Is a Separate Process

This form covers Optimum internet, cable, and phone only. Optimum Mobile uses its own process: for a name change, you submit a photocopy of one valid ID (driver’s license, passport, federal or state ID, military ID, or green card) by visiting an Optimum Mobile store, mailing it, or faxing it to the same Bethpage address and fax number above.³ Optimum Mobile accepts a name change for any legal reason and does not require a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Transferring an Optimum Mobile account to another person requires a photo ID copy from both parties.⁵

1
Optimum Mobile. Where Can I Find My Optimum Internet Account Number?
2
Optimum. Residential Only – Name Change / Account Transfer
3
Optimum Mobile. How Do I Change the Name on My Account?
4
Optimum Mobile. How Do I Change the Name or Ownership on My Business Account?
5
Optimum Mobile. Can I Transfer My Optimum Mobile Account to Another Person