topic Re: Can't receive or send SMS abroad in Mobile Services

Can't receive or send SMS abroad

LucyMarx44 — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 09:52:32 GMT

Hi EE community,

I'm on a pay-as-you-go contract with EE - which has plenty of credit on it - but am unable to send or receive SMS messages while abroad. This is a long-standing problem which I was previously told by an EE rep had been resolved - but it hasn't. I've used the sim card in the UK many times. I really need to receive SMS messages for OTPs and so this is a deeply frustrating issue.

Can someone please help? Thanks.

Re: Can't receive or send SMS abroad

Chris_B — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 09:59:42 GMT

@LucyMarx44 Does that OTP sender have your number as 0 at the start or 44 ?

Re: Can't receive or send SMS abroad

LucyMarx44 — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 10:07:00 GMT

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your reply. It's my bank and it has +44 at the start.

Re: Can't receive or send SMS abroad

Northerner — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 10:24:00 GMT

Hi @LucyMarx44

When did you last make a chargeable call or text?

When were you last on EE UK network?

Thanks

Re: Can't receive or send SMS abroad

LucyMarx44 — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 10:46:32 GMT

Hi @Northerner - I haven't made a call or sent a text on this sim card since July 2022. But this is a long-standing problem. In December 2020, I spent an hour on the phone to an EE rep who told me this issue was resolved. I used the sim card throughout December 2020 and January 2021 in the UK. When I went overseas in February 2021, I couldn't receive SMS messages. I've had to go to ridiculous lengths to access things like online bank accounts since that time, but really need to resolve this now.

Any insights or recommendations? Thank you so much.

Re: Can't receive or send SMS abroad

XRaySpeX — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 12:11:29 GMT

Your PAYG SIM has gone into hibernation & then been completely deactivated due to non-use for such a long time..

EE PAYG SIMs are deactivated after 6 months of non-use. You then have a further 3 months to call EE to reactivate it before it is lost completely.

You needed to make a chargeable action like making a chargeable call or text, topping up or buying a Pack or Add-on, not just using your mins, texts or data from your pack.