Ee pay as you go not working in Mexico

[Landyandy1]

Hi I had a contract with EE untill two months ago and went over to pay as you go , ever since then  I can not text everyone and can not ring out ? I put £10 credit on but I need to use some to keep my number but I can't use it, I use a local SIM in my other phone ok .but my EE is my backup, I am not coming back to the UK  for a few year's. Please help thanks Andy 

[bristolian]

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.

On PAYG, this is auto-enabled once your phone is used in the UK first. This is a requirement of all new EE PAYG SIMs, and there is no workaround.

When you migrated to PAYG, did you do this in the UK? And did you use that SIM on EE's UK network before travelling abroad? You will now be subject to the hibernation policy which requires a chargeable call or text to be made/sent at least once every 6months. If you are unable to do this due to lack of roaming ability, your SIM will be disconnected and the number/credit lost after 9months.

[XRaySpeX]

When was your SIM moved to PAYG? It takes 30 days notice to cancel a contract & before it is moved to PAYG. Had that change taken place while abroad you can't now use it at all while abroad. To be used abroad EE PAYG SIMs need 1st activating on EE's home UK network. If it wasn't you can't now use it until you return to UK.

[Landyandy1]

Hi thanks for your reply, 

Yes I rang them and gave  them a month notice before my contract ran out , yes that change had taken place while abroad (in Mexico)  , and it's not a new SIM  it's my old contract one I have full signal with the R at the side and I'm not coming back to the UK for another 4 years. And ideas? Thanks Andy 

[bristolian]

If a SIM has been moved from pay-monthly to PAYG, it is treated as a new PAYG SIM and requires reactivation on EE's UK network before it will be fully functional.

That you have coverage & "R" displayed is unusal, but the behaviour - inability to make calls or send texts - is consistent with roaming not being active.

The fix, as already advised, is to use your SIM on EE's UK network. If you're not able to do this within the hibernation period, you will eventually lose the number & associated credit. The 9month period will most likely have started counting on migration to PAYG.

[Landyandy1]

Ok thanks for the reply , so there no way around it ? , what about contacting EE ? Or I have to send it back to the UK to activated it  then get it sent back again 🙄🙄 😢thanks Andy 

[XRaySpeX]

You could do that to get around it. 

[Landyandy1]

Even funny thing is I can get a text from my  daughter in the UK ok 🤔 .

[XRaySpeX]

Yes, sometimes in this state you can still receive texts but nowt else.

[bristolian]

Lack of roaming means an inability to connect to foreign networks, causing a lack of mobile coverage and thus inability to use calls, texts or mobile data. It's therefore unusual that you should be able to receive texts in this state, checking receipt of SMS is one of the tests of roaming enablement.

In your case, everything else fits with lack of roaming and so you should probably consider yourself lucky to be able to receive SMS!!