Can't receive or send SMS abroad

[LucyMarx44]

Hi EE community, 

I'm on a pay-as-you-go contract with EE - which has plenty of credit on it - but am unable to send or receive SMS messages while abroad. This is a long-standing problem which I was previously told by an EE rep had been resolved - but it hasn't. I've used the sim card in the UK many times. I really need to receive SMS messages for OTPs and so this is a deeply frustrating issue. 

Can someone please help? Thanks.

[Chris_B]

@LucyMarx44   Does that OTP sender have your number as 0 at the start or 44 ? 

[LucyMarx44]

Hi Chris, 

Thanks for your reply. It's my bank and it has +44 at the start.

[Northerner]

Hi @LucyMarx44 

When did you last make a chargeable call or text? 

When were you last on EE UK network? 

Thanks 

[LucyMarx44]

Hi @Northerner - I haven't made a call or sent a text on this sim card since July 2022. But this is a long-standing problem. In December 2020, I spent an hour on the phone to an EE rep who told me this issue was resolved. I used the sim card throughout December 2020 and January 2021 in the UK. When I went overseas in February 2021, I couldn't receive SMS messages. I've had to go to ridiculous lengths to access things like online bank accounts since that time, but really need to resolve this now. 

Any insights or recommendations? Thank you so much. 

[XRaySpeX · Accepted solution]

Your PAYG SIM has gone into hibernation & then been completely deactivated due to non-use for such a long time..

EE PAYG SIMs are deactivated after 6 months of non-use. You then have a further 3 months to call EE to reactivate it before it is lost completely.

You needed to make a chargeable action like making a chargeable call or text, topping up or buying a Pack or Add-on, not just using your mins, texts or data from your pack.