Can't redeem rewards because it requires phone number, and Microsoft keeps blocking me from adding my number

Microsoft Account Support informed me they are no longer recommending people add cell phone numbers as an alias. Apparently, it's considered old and outdated and they are recommending people use the MS Authenticator app instead.

What I've done is sent in a support request to Microsoft Rewards Support stating what MS Account support informed me of, and that they REMOVE the requirement to have to have a cell phone registered as an alias against the MS account. That's what the Rewards team needs to do.

Cell phone alias is considered old and the way it was implemented is, if you add your number to an MS account, it can't be used on any other account. If you delete it, you cannot reuse that number for any account. It's dumb, but now that MS Account Support considers it antiquated, they're not going to update it.

So it falls on Rewards team to remove that requirement since it's not longer supported by MS Account support.

I have had this same issue for quite some time but I get "This alias cannot be added to your account". I have opened two different support tickets and each time they dont bother reading my request send me a link on how to add a phone number, then close my ticket. Its frustrating that I have been saving these points and cant use them, and Microsoft Support cant even be bothered to read my tickets.

It's a complete mess. Also, one you're phone number has been used, you can never register it again for any account, even if you remove it and then try to add it back to the same account it was removed from. They keep it cached in a deleted state and they will never clear that cache. So once you use the number, you can use it again at all.

I know I was able to add my wife's cell phone to my account because it was never added to any MS account. I removed it after redeeming a gift card, but then I couldn't add it back in, proving the point that you can add a cell phone back to the same account or any other account. MS Account support says they won't change that because they are not recommending that people use aliases anymore.

The issue is all on MS Rewards relying on something the MS Accounts no longer supports. In fact, MS Accounts needs to remove that option from being selected, so change needs to occur on both sides.

Good day Srimoyee! I am glad to be able to provide assistance to you today. There are other users who reported for the same issue and you can consider clearing up the cache on the browser that you are using and also I would suggest to monitor it for a bit more of time as there might be an issue on the system or server that is interfering with this one but if it will still be same later today then you can head over to the link below to check it directly with the MS Rewards Support as they have information and access to provide on what transpired on the issue that you have encountered and my apologies as well as this is a user to user forum and therefore we do not have inside access to be able to cross check this from our end.

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=823675

*Clearing cache in MS Edge and Google Chrome*

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/learning-c...

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3205...

___________________________________________________________

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

___________________________________________________________

Regards,

Paul R.