topic Calls barred in Roaming

Calls barred

Muhammadsunbol — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:05:10 GMT

I am currently abroad in Egypt on Pay As You Go and my outgoing calls are barred. I tried texting ROAM INT to 150 but received an error. I cannot call customer service because of the bar. Can an agent please help lift the block on my account?

Re: Calls barred

Northerner — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:05:47 GMT

Hi @Muhammadsunbol

Was the EE PAYG SIM activated on the UK EE network.

When was the last time you made a chargeable call or text.

Also read here: https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Pay-as-you-go/Understanding-Pay-As-You-Go-Hibernation-and-how-to-keep-your/td-p/1606627

Thanks

Re: Calls barred

XRaySpeX — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:18:04 GMT

Texting ROAM or ROAMING to 150 is only for contracts & can only be done in UK.

Re: Calls barred

Muhammadsunbol — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:22:08 GMT

Hi @Northerner ,

Thank you for your reply, I was on a contract when I was in the UK and recently decided to change it to PAYGO while I was in Egypt. I called customer service and they said I was eligble for a change. They then changed my plan to PAYGO and advised me to make a call/SMS while abroad outside of the uk atleast once a month to keep my number running. I now cannot make any calls or SMS but I have topped up my number through the app. Will my number contuinue to work or will this situation eventually close my number?

Re: Calls barred

Chris_B — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 13:46:52 GMT

@Muhammadsunbol your problem is you changed to PAYG whilst she was outside the UK it can only be done when you’re connected directly to the EE network . Your sim cannot activate as a PAYG sim when abroad.

Re: Calls barred

Peter_W — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 16:41:04 GMT

Hey there, @Muhammadsunbol

As @Chris_B has mentioned above, if you're overseas when a SIM converts from pay monthly to pay as you go, this will cut off your service.

I appreciate this is far from ideal, but because the switch to pay as you go is technically a new account activation, you need to be within the UK and connected to our network for this to complete.

If you'll be back in the UK within the next six months you'll be fine, but if you're not you'll need to look at the possibility of either sending your SIM back to a friend / family member, or ordering a replacement and see if someone can activate this on your behalf.

Peter