Unable to use phone in South Korea - about to lose my number - please help?

ATButton — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 12:52:34 GMT

Hello, not sure if this is the right forum?

I am currently in South Korea, been here two months, and haven't used my phone for voice, text, or data since arriving as I have a wi-fi device which I hired and haven't needed the other features.

Just received a text from EE (I can receive text messages with no issue from multiple sources) to tell me as I haven't used my phone my number is at risk. I don't return to the UK for another month and now am trying to desperately send a text message from my phone but they are bouncing back as unsent.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S20FE. I am on PAYG with over £20 credit.

My phone itself is set to roam, I assume I obviously have some type of mobile service as I have been getting texts, and it's picking up 3G. However, I can't seem to receive calls and if I try to make one, I get an automated message saying 'calls have been temporarily suspended'.

Additionally I just tried getting a Data add on to test and when I turn off the wi-fi is seems to pick up SKTelecom but when I open my Google Chrome app it takes me straight to the EE page and any other page doesn't seem to load. So I appear not to have mobile data either.

I've checked other messages here and have tried going into my EE account settings, but where everyone says to check Account Settings>Control Content or Parental Controls - I don't have either of these options show up either on my website account or the app.

So now I have no clue what to do?

Can someone help out at all? Thank you.

Re: Unable to use phone in South Korea - about to lose my number - please help?

XRaySpeX — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 12:59:12 GMT

@ATButton : Sounds like your PAYG SIM has gone into hibernation.

When did you last use it for a chargeable action? 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.

topic Re: Unable to use phone in South Korea - about to lose my number - please help? in Pay as you go

Unable to use phone in South Korea - about to lose my number - please help?

Re: Unable to use phone in South Korea - about to lose my number - please help?