topic Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated in Pay as you go

How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

AC_ca — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 03:30:11 GMT

I have a pay as you go sim, and is now travelling abroad (in North America) for more than 6 months. Like to know if I make a manual top up to my account once every 6 months be enough to be considered as active to avoid the number being deactivated after 6 months? Or do I have to make any other chargeable activity (such as making a roaming call or text) to maintain the number? Thanks

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

XRaySpeX — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 05:24:15 GMT

Yes, it needs to be within 179 days of the previous.

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

sam1915 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 09:12:42 GMT

Can you confirm in detail - If I top up on say 1st July and buy a £10 pack, and use that throughout July to make calls and texts, does that 179 days start from when I topped up (1st July), or when I last made a call/text (eg on 29th July)

I found the information below but I'm unsure how to read it - I get that to count as a "chargeable activity" any data use must be not from a pack - but does that condition also apply to calls, texts, and picture messages?

What is a chargeable activity?
- Voice and data usage. This includes making calls, sending text messages and picture messages, retrieving a voicemail, and using data that is not within your pack or add-on.
- Topping up your account.
- Buying a pack or an add-on.

Finally is there any way to check when your number is about to go into hibernation? Over the last 6 months I got two text messages warning me to make a call, send a text or use data etc but they seemed to be at random times - can anyone tell me that message 1 is sent, say, 70 days after non-use and message 2 is sent after 100 days (so I can count 79 days from message 2 to work out when my number is about to go into hibernation?) Also, would be handy if you got a message the day before so you could do something about it - does that happen?

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

bristolian — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 09:23:38 GMT

Using any allowance from within a pack or add-on is not classed as chargeable. Purchase of the pack, is.

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

XRaySpeX — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:59:40 GMT

It counts from when you bought the £10 pack, which by its very nature must post-date topping-up. The calls & texts made during July don't count as they come from your pack.

You should get a warning text 60 days after your last chargeable action.

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

sam1915 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 11:27:08 GMT

Great thanks.

And also, just to be clear - I'd know if my number had gone into hibernation as I would see "No service" or similar and would therefore be unable to receive texts or calls - as I would no longer be connected to EE? And also I wouldn't be able to login online and top up, or receive a message from EE to say my top up was successful?

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

bristolian — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 11:58:57 GMT

Another symptom of hibernation is that the phone has coverage and appears normal - but is unable to make or receive calls, save for outgoing calls being redirected to 150.

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

XRaySpeX — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 12:26:46 GMT

You should still be able to login online. It's the SIM that's gone into hibernation, not your a/c.

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

sam1915 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 19:46:42 GMT

Hmm sorry that just confused me a bit. When I was on O2 if I forgot to top up my number would simply be disconnected after 6 months - it was really obvious, I'd have no service, and would be unable to top up as my number was deactivated (and would have to spend hours on the phone trying to get them to reconnect me)

On EE at the moment I have service, can receive calls and texts, and have just successfully topped up. Therefore am I right to conclude I've not gone into hibernation and have another 179 days before I need to top up again (by which time I should be back in the UK)!

I was working on the assumption that hibernation on EE is the same as O2 but maybe it's not....!

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

XRaySpeX — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 20:06:25 GMT

@sam1915 : As you are receiving calls & texts at the mo' you can't have yet gone into hibernation. You will have 179 days from your last chargeable activity before you do. You haven't told us when that was. Calls from your pack don't count. It certainly wasn't last July as you previously stated as you would be in hibernation by now. You must have topped recently for your present trip.

Where are you abroad?

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

sam1915 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 20:29:45 GMT

Am in NZ.

According to a note I left myself, I topped up on 19th July 2023 when I moved to EE and then used a Pack for a month for calls/texts/data. I then topped up on 18th Jan 2024 - ie today in UK time - which I now realize is 183 days later.. whoops!

However as mentioned, I'm still connected to EE, am able to top up and receive calls/texts so I'm assuming there's a grace period or something I did in July counted as chargeable (I had a zero balance after buying the pack on 19th July 2023 so seems impossible)

Further confusing me - my first reminder text came on 6th Oct, which is 79 days after my topup (give or take a day due to time differences). Given that's supposed arrive after 60 days of no activity, that implies my last chargeable activity was actaully around 7th August - I was already in NZ then! But maybe something reset the hibernation timer? And if I was at 60 days on 6th Oct, that implies my number wouldn't hibernate until 2nd Feb 2024.

My second reminder text came on 12th Dec - I can't find anything that describes how far into the hibernation countdown it's sent out.

Anyway - if you're sure that my number hasn't hibernated, given that I have topped up successfully (the money shows on my account) and that I can receive calls and texts, I'm happy 🙂

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

XRaySpeX — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 20:45:13 GMT

@sam1915 : You can't be in hibernation if you're receiving calls today. You're paying for them!

You've been in NZ since at least 12 Dec. when you got 2nd reminder. What have you done with your SIM since then?

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

sam1915 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 20:54:23 GMT

Ah well I didn't answer the call, would have cost me a fortune! But I definitely have credit showing on my account now.

Have been in NZ since 4th August, the SIM has sat connected the whole time receiving regular text messages etc.

Again I assumed that if I was in hibernation all that would stop and I'd be disconnected - and I certainly wouldn't be able to top up! Surely somewhere there's a definition of what hibernation is, and it includes not being able to make/receive calls and texts, or top up - you're disconnected?

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

XRaySpeX — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 20:59:16 GMT

@sam1915 : I didn’t use my top up credit. Why has it run out?

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

sam1915 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 21:08:21 GMT

Yeah I've read that about 10 times now 😞 I didn't have any credit on the account to be removed.

It doesn't explain anywhere what hibernation actually means - I've been assuming it's like on O2 where you get disconnected from the network and can't make or receive calls!

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

James_B — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 07:43:15 GMT

Hi @sam1915,

If you're able to receive calls and texts, your account isn't in hibernation.

When in hibernation all connectivity is suspended.

James

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

XRaySpeX — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 07:59:05 GMT

@James_B : I believe I've seen users in hibernation who can still receive SMS. I might be wrong!

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

James_B — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:02:21 GMT

Good Morning, @XRaySpeX 🙂

It's my understanding that normal SMS messaging is suspended as soon as the account enters hibernation. Perhaps they were network texts from EE?

James

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

XRaySpeX — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:04:33 GMT

@James_B : Ah, maybe! But network texts from EE is still connectivity.

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

James_B — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:24:42 GMT

Can't argue with that, @XRaySpeX 😉

James

topic Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated in Pay as you go

How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

What is a chargeable activity?

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

Re: How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated