PAYG Sim - activation

[planetf1a]

Hi,

 I am looking at 'trying out' EE in the next few weeks as I'll have the opportunity to visit a number of places and want to see the overall coverage/speeds, as well as at my home area/local walks/gym etc - since my current pay-monthly supplier is a little underwhelming in some places. I've never used EE before - other than Orange in the very early days!

 With this in mind I'm looking at getting an EE PAYG SIM as a test. The summer special requires paying up-front, so was thinking of ordering the £20 50GB card - ample opportunity to give it a serious chance.

 I'm still planning my diary.. so my question is whether these cards come pre-activated or not. By that I really mean whether my '1 month, 50GB' timer starts on dispatch, or when I'm ready.. and if the latter, how long do I have to make this happen?

I'm happy to order soon so I ensure I have the sim in time, but don't want to find my deciding to put off hols for another month and not really getting the benefit?

 Whilst I wouldn't stick on PAYG it will be useful information for a possible contract switch at renewal 🙂

Many thanks

[XRaySpeX]

@planetf1a : The Summer Data Offer PAYG SIMs can be had free from Free pay as you go SIM card & you can top-up later.

Even if you pay for 1 of these Summer Data Offer PAYG SIMs, Packs don't start until you buy them & you must buy the 1st 1 by 17.08.2021 to get the extra "over-the-norm" data.

[planetf1a]

Ah I see - so basically that £ goes to a credit, and then once the Sim is received that credit is used to buy and start the pack?

If so, when I receive a SIM, how do I ensure that the credit is only used for the pack - ie one doesn't accidentally send an SMS (easy on iPhone to activate iMessage for example). Can the pack be started via a website, before being inserted into phone for example?

[XRaySpeX]

Yes,

• A paid-for SIM contains the PAYG credit already on it.
• A free SIM you add the PAYG credit later.
• You buy the 1st Pack from the PAYG credit whenever you like, subject to the special offer provisos I gave you earlier. You may buy the pack by text or online.
• The 1st pack's 30-days starts when you 1st use it for calls, texts or data.

You just need to be careful not to make a call or send a text before you buy the pack. You can't use data, e.g. iMessage, w/out a Pack.

This might help you : What are pay as you go packs?

[planetf1a]

Thanks - apologies for the questions. I've never really used PAYG, always been contract (including 1-month)  - and this is really just for a 'test'

So on 'You just need to be careful not to make a call or send a text before you buy the pack. You can't use data, e.g. iMessage, w/out a Pack.' - understand,

So.. if I receive a sim pack in the post that is prepaid, can I 'buy' a pack online before I place the sim inside the phone? That would ensure no credit is used first?

[XRaySpeX]

Not exactly! To manage it online you 1st have to register it to a MyEE a/c. In doing so MyEE will want to send it a verification code by text.

You might just as well send a PACK20 text to 150 immediately to buy it & you don't need to register it. 

[planetf1a]

Still getting to grips with this PAYG idea (sadly there's no EE 1 month contract option - I've done this on vodafone/three before to test before switch)

If I put the sim in the phone, isn't there a chance a text will get sent by the OS itself. Facetime etc tends to do this far too easily. Also *every* app is using data, and I'm not sure I can suitably turn that off before inserting the sim. And as the sim registers with the network I also think that may re-load up the apn etc information ?

So how on earth can I guarantee to use the £15 or £20 for the pack I want to test, and I don't end up with £14.90 or similar and have to top up? Is there a particular sequence (assuming the masses of software on the phone - iOS - loves being chatty). 

On 'smarty' for example I don't have this issue as it's just bundles so I can test with that, I was just hoping to try EE for a change. Maybe more pricey, but could be worth it if the service is better...

[XRaySpeX]

1. Phones don't send texts themselves out the blue. You have do any sending yourself.
2. Facetime etc. are data apps. I told you already you can't possibly use data until you've bought a pack. EE doesn't have a per-KB cost for data. So it is impossible to spend your credit on data.

I think you are making it more difficult than it really is. I top-up once a month for a small data bundle (cuz I'm usually on WiFi) & I'm fully conscious of when, if & how much I'm going to spend on making a call or sending a text.