topic Re: Using PAYG in Australia in Roaming

Using PAYG in Australia

matt45678 — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:11:24 GMT

Hello I have just switched to PAYG while in Australia now I am not receiving any calls from the UK text or calls. When people try and call they get service unavailable. I am also not able to ring out.

I have just topped up and this credit is showing on my account

Really poor EE service as the in app chat has been removed from my account and the only means i can speak with EE is via calling them. Has anyone else had a similar issue?

Thanks

Re: Using PAYG in Australia

Schockwave — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:00:01 GMT

Hello @matt45678 ,

Welcome to the community,

If you did this whilst abroad, then it will not work, as pay as you go first needs to be activated in the UK, topping up makes no difference.

Chat is only available to customers on mobile contract.

Not poor service, you should have used your SIM card in the UK first, to activate it, you will either have to wait until you return to the UK or send your SIM card back to the UK for someone to make a chargeable call or text and return it to you.

Re: Using PAYG in Australia

Alexee124 — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 17:59:46 GMT

Having the same issue swapped to pay as you go whilst here in Australia as contract ran out last month and not paying for something I only use for 2FA. Did you manage to get this sorted ? Surely they can activated it on the phone going back to the uk to activated the sim is ridiculous

Re: Using PAYG in Australia

ee_user14 — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:47:19 GMT

@Alexee124 wrote:
Having the same issue swapped to pay as you go whilst here in Australia ...Did you manage to get this sorted ? Surely they can activated it on the phone going back to the uk to activated the sim is ridiculous

Why "surely"? And why is it "ridiculous" to have to activate a new SIM in the UK first?

The correct answer has already been given - if you're having the same issue, then you should follow the same advice to resolve.

Re: Using PAYG in Australia

matt45678 — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 08:36:09 GMT

Hi,

No solution really bad customer service. They state you need to be in the UK to activate the sim now it’s changed to PAYG.

Re: Using PAYG in Australia

Chris_S — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:28:36 GMT

Hi @matt45678

It's correct that your SIM will need to be activated in the UK before you can use it internationally.

If you have a friend or family member who can activate your SIM for you, they can then post the SIM over to you in Australia.

As a temporary measure, you can use Wi-Fi-based options for calls and messages such as WhatsApp.

Chris S