topic Re: Issues with Pay as You Go SIM in Pay as you go

Issues with Pay as You Go SIM

TCav979 — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 02:50:02 GMT

So for context: I went travelling on 6th January and needed to keep my UK EE number active while away so that I could keep using OTP passcodes and WhatsApp. I contacted EE on the phone who said that I would automatically transfer from a paid monthly contract to a Pay as You Go SIM and that I needed to call a UK number every 3months or so to keep the number. That’s fine, except all calls to UK numbers are barred? I can’t even text or ring 150. I had a physical SIM for my old contract but I’m wondering now if my ‘new’ Pay as You Go SIM is an E-SIM which I need to activate?
My biggest issue (which is incredibly frustrating) is that I can’t call EE for help, as previously stated the number is barred, so my only option for support is not available to me abroad. I am away for the rest of the year so I can’t just wait to visit an EE shop either.

I would really appreciate some assistance with this.

Re: Issues with Pay as You Go SIM

Chris_B — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 06:16:26 GMT

@TCav979 Did you change to PAYG and use the sim in the UK as a PAYG sim before you left the UK ? You can’t change to PAYG from contract while outside the UK.

eSim isn’t available to PAYG customers.

Re: Issues with Pay as You Go SIM

TCav979 — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:04:50 GMT

Hello Chris, thanks for your reply. I had the call with EE before I went travelling but the operator had the SIM ‘change’ on the day of travel (6th January). I never rang or sent an SMS on this day as I had no reason to; I used iMessage but I know that’s different.

I think without calling EE - which I physically can’t do - my only option will be to get a PAC code and move to a provider with an ESIM for use this year.

That is unless someone from EE can contact me and help me out without me calling them??? Is there a way to do this?!!

Re: Issues with Pay as You Go SIM

XRaySpeX — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:40:56 GMT

@TCav979 : When was your SIM moved to PAYG? It takes 30 days notice to cancel a contract & before it is moved to PAYG. Had that change taken place while abroad you can't now use it at all while abroad. To be used abroad EE PAYG SIMs need 1st activating on EE's home UK network. If it wasn't you can't now use it until you return to UK.

I doubt you would be able to port to a UK network while abroad.

Re: Issues with Pay as You Go SIM

TCav979 — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:52:42 GMT

Ok that worries me then as I am now stuck abroad with a SIM that I can’t use and can’t call my provider to try and sort out? Is there no way apart from ringing 150 that I can contact EE?

Re: Issues with Pay as You Go SIM

rkelly1 — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:45:38 GMT

You can call EE on +44 7953 966 250 from another line if you require support however if you didn't activate on PAYG before you left it would not work until you connect back to the UK network

Re: Issues with Pay as You Go SIM

TCav979 — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:52:43 GMT

So I am completely stuck then? If this is the case, even if I call EE I can’t activate the plan?

I have messaged their complaint department as this is currently the only way I can actually contact them in the hope that someone technical responds…

Re: Issues with Pay as You Go SIM

Schockwave — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:25:41 GMT

@TCav979 , you could request a physical SIM card replacement to be sent to your home address and then have someone activate it for you and make a chargeable call and then send it out to you, otherwise I doubt there is anything EE can do to get your E-Sim to work, and as has already been said, E-Sim do not work on pay as you go, only physical SIM cards, which need to first be activated in the UK and used here first.