topic Re: EE sim card deactivation in Pay as you go

EE sim card deactivation

fahime1 — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:43:02 GMT

Hi,
This is Fahime. I am a full-stack developer. Unfortunately, I live in Iran, where everything is banned and filtered. For registering on some websites like Apple Developer (if you do not know, my country is not in the list of countries available to Apple), I need to have a sim card from a country that is available in my country and also eligible to register. So I found out the EE sim card is Affordable and I also bought it only for recieving code from the web to confirm that it's me. My problem is that if you do not send text for over 160 days, you deactivate my sim card. I topped up my balance to 10. But EE sent me a text if I do not send a message or even call anybody, you're going to deactivate my SIM card. I can not send SMS via this card. I know it relates to my country, for example, when I try to send a text "HELP" to 150, it says "not delivered". I know this is not your company's problem, but I do not want to end my connection with the world. This is the only way I can cope with this awful situation, living in Iran. Iran is like a big prison. Please help me. I spent a lot of money here to buy this SIM card.

KEEP ME CONNECTED, HELP ME

Re: EE sim card deactivation

XRaySpeX — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:53:04 GMT

@fahime1 : An EE PAYG SIM needs activating on EE's UK network 1st before it can be used abroad.

Re: EE sim card deactivation

fahime1 — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:51:21 GMT

When I try to dial the +44 800 079 8586, it says "Communication is not possible. "

Is there any chance you can help me prevent banning my sim card? I really need it😔

Re: EE sim card deactivation

Leanne_T — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:13:41 GMT

Hi there @fahime1

Thanks for coming to the community.

As @XRaySpeX has advised the SIM would need to be used in the UK before this could be used in Iran. If you would like to contact us to see if this can be looked into, you would need to call us from any other phone.

Leanne.

Re: EE sim card deactivation

XRaySpeX — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:32:41 GMT

I can't activate your SIM. You need to bring it to UK or have a friend there who can do it for you.