Is there any traditional or text only plan without having to top up frequently?

[Natasha-07]

I am a very infrequent user, Please can someone tell me what is the cheapest way or Is there any traditional or text only plan without having to top up frequently or how not to loose my old phone number? I used to be a one to one, then T-Mobile, now EE customer with the same number for the past over 20 years, but I don't use my phone frequently, I mostly use to text old relatives abroad, and my parents are very old and this is my only means of communication with them when I need to. Thank you.

[XRaySpeX · Accepted solution]

All EE PAYG SIMs come primed with a recurring Pack of allowances ready to bought out of your PAYG credit as soon as it is sufficient. Your last top-up went to buy this Pack.

By texting AL to 150 it should show you the Pack you have bought with your credit & how much you have left from your allowances until its expiry date.

Text STOP PACK to 150 before you next top-up & you can use the SIM for calls & texts but not data as normal PAYG at standard per-unit rates paid for out of your standing PAYG credit balance.

To save the SIM going into hibernation due to lack of use, just remember within every 179 days (~ 6 months) 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 any Pack or Add-on you might have.

[Natasha-07]

Thanks you for your answer its very helpful. 

I used to have a text rate for international text on T-Mobile, but it seems to have been taken away since they supplied me with the replacement sim card, is there any text only plan for international? Thank you.

[XRaySpeX]

International calls & texts to overseas nos. from UK can be rather expensive but EE has a free add-on that anyone, on PAYG or contract, can apply for to give these calls & texts at a fraction of the standard rates. See The Free CALL ABROAD Add-on for Cheap Calls/Texts from UK .

[Natasha-07]

Thank you very much for your helpful advice,  I just checked the link and did the adjustment on my phone, and managed to get a cheaper rate for international text. It hasn't been easy to sort this issue before this, and  since the past 3 weeks, I just couldn't sort this through customer service. Thank you very much for your help.