How to avoid pay as you go sim number from being deactivated

[AC_ca]

I have a pay as you go sim, and is now travelling abroad (in North America) for more than 6 months. Like to know if I make a manual top up to my account once every 6 months be enough to be considered as active to avoid the number being deactivated after 6 months?  Or do I have to make any other chargeable activity (such as making a roaming call or text) to maintain the number? Thanks

[sam1915]

Am in NZ.

According to a note I left myself, I topped up on 19th July 2023 when I moved to EE and then used a Pack for a month for calls/texts/data.  I then topped up on 18th Jan 2024 - ie today in UK time - which I now realize is 183 days later.. whoops!

However as mentioned, I'm still connected to EE, am able to top up and receive calls/texts so I'm assuming there's a grace period or something I did in July counted as chargeable (I had a zero balance after buying the pack on 19th July 2023 so seems impossible)

Further confusing me - my first reminder text came on 6th Oct, which is 79 days after my topup (give or take a day due to time differences).  Given that's supposed arrive after 60 days of no activity, that implies my last chargeable activity was actaully around 7th August - I was already in NZ then!  But maybe something reset the hibernation timer? And if I was at 60 days on 6th Oct, that implies my number wouldn't hibernate until 2nd Feb 2024.

My second reminder text came on 12th Dec - I can't find anything that describes how far into the hibernation countdown it's sent out.

Anyway - if you're sure that my number hasn't hibernated, given that I have topped up successfully (the money shows on my account) and that I can receive calls and texts, I'm happy 🙂

[XRaySpeX]

@sam1915 : You can't be in hibernation if you're receiving calls today. You're paying for them!

You've been in NZ since at least 12 Dec. when you got 2nd reminder. What have you done with your SIM since then?

[sam1915]

Ah well I didn't answer the call, would have cost me a fortune!   But I definitely have credit showing on my account now.

Have been in NZ since 4th August, the SIM has sat connected the whole time receiving regular text messages etc.

Again I assumed that if I was in hibernation all that would stop and I'd be disconnected - and I certainly wouldn't be able to top up!  Surely somewhere there's a definition of what hibernation is, and it includes not being able to make/receive calls and texts, or top up - you're disconnected? 

[XRaySpeX]

@sam1915 : I didn’t use my top up credit. Why has it run out? 

[sam1915]

Yeah I've read that about 10 times now 😞  I didn't have any credit on the account to be removed.  

It doesn't explain anywhere what hibernation actually means - I've been assuming it's like on O2 where you get disconnected from the network and can't make or receive calls!

[James_B]

Hi @sam1915,

If you're able to receive calls and texts, your account isn't in hibernation.

When in hibernation all connectivity is suspended.

James

[XRaySpeX]

@James_B : I believe I've seen users in hibernation who can still receive SMS. I might be wrong!

[James_B]

Good Morning, @XRaySpeX 🙂

It's my understanding that normal SMS messaging is suspended as soon as the account enters hibernation. Perhaps they were network texts from EE?

James

[XRaySpeX]

@James_B : Ah, maybe! But network texts from EE is still connectivity.

[James_B]

Can't argue with that, @XRaySpeX 😉

James