topic Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK) in Roaming

Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

Duggyr — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 09:41:09 GMT

I have a pay as you go sim. I’m in Thailand at the moment and the phone is useless. I cannot send messages or call the UK . How do I fix this urgently

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

bristolian — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 09:53:27 GMT

Your ability to get coverage abroad (which calls, texts & mobile data rely on) is dependent on roaming being activated - which allows your phone to connect to foreign networks.

Have you used your phone abroad previously, did you receive a welcome text message on first arrival abroad? These are good evidence of roaming being enabled if so. In these cases, manually cycling through all available local networks often resolves issues - toggling flight mode can have the same effect.

If not...On PAYG, roaming is auto-enabled once your phone is used in the UK first.. Did you do this?

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

Duggyr — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:05:51 GMT

I did not use phone in UK as I had urgent travel plans . I changed from a monthly plan to Pay as you go and it changed over when I got here . I cannot seem to do anything now and it is impossible to get CS . I did get a welcome message yesterday saying calls cost £1.80 / min and texts 60p . But I still cannot use these services . I put £5 credit on and still no bloody good

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

bristolian — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:10:09 GMT

All new PAYG SIMs need to be activated on EE's UK network, before roaming is auto-enabled for use abroad. This includes migrations from pay-monthly.

Now that your SIM is a new PAYG one, it therefore needs usage in the UK before roaming is enabled. If you've not done this, it will not work abroad until it's first used on EE's UK network.

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

Duggyr — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:22:09 GMT

Thanks for that, if I convert it back to a monthly plan will I be able to use it then ? Perhaps I should not have changed from my original monthly contract before leaving ?

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

XRaySpeX — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:28:32 GMT

Probably not.

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

Duggyr — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:39:19 GMT

So what you’re saying is that my number is redundant unless I return to the UK ? I had a monthly plan on this same number for many years and changed to PAYG just before it changed over . So what can I do to get this UK number to work ?

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

bristolian — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 08:25:46 GMT

@Duggyr wrote:
So what can I do to get this UK number to work ?

Now that your SIM is a new PAYG one, it therefore needs usage in the UK before roaming is enabled. If you've not done this, it will not work abroad until it's first used on EE's UK network.

Pay-monthly users can enable roaming via CS remotely, however you then have the issue of a new SIM needing activation whilst abroad - it may work, but it comes with no guarantees.

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

hz2019 — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:32:21 GMT

Thanks,

I came across the same situation, and seems the only solution for this is to come back to UK.

Wondering how long can I keep this number for (not deactived by the system) if I can't text and make call, or any other suggestions to prevent this number from being deactivated while I can't make call and text until I go back to UK?

Many thanks.

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

XRaySpeX — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:32:36 GMT

@hz2019 : A PAYG SIM goes into hibernation after 279 days of non-chargeable activity.

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

Peter_W — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:14:33 GMT

Welcome to the Community, @hz2019.

You can find more details on what exactly happens with pay as you go hibernation in our dedicated thread here.

When it comes to stopping this, you would most likely need to either post the SIM back to the UK for a friend / family member to connect to the UK network and top-up.

Alternatively, if you'd prefer not to post this back and are able to get in touch with our team, you can request a replacement SIM via post, but this can only go to the address registered on your account.

Peter

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

hz2019 — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:39:23 GMT

Thanks Peter 🙂 @Peter_W

I had a check on this document and is super helpful.

Just would like to follow up a question after reading this.

I can't make a call and text as my roaming is not activated, but I can top up my account every 60 days to keep my account active. Am I correct. 🙂

Thanks and have a good day.

Re: Pay as you go abroad (cannot send messages or make calls to UK)

XRaySpeX — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 04:18:04 GMT

CORRECTION: @hz2019 : A PAYG SIM goes into hibernation after 179 days of non-chargeable activity.

Correct, that would work. It needn't be as frequently as 60 days; every 5 months would do.