My EE sim card doesn't work in my home country

[Haukmin]

I started using an EE SIM card with the 'Pay as you go' plan 6 months ago in the UK. Now, I am in my home country, Taiwan.

Despite showing the bars with R sign, I cannot use phone calls and SMS (which showed Failed to send).  There are still a few pounds left in my EE account.

Before I went back to my country, I went to the EE store and asked the staff about the SIM condition, and he told me that I could use it; actually, it is not.

Can someone please help me how to deal with this? I am afraid of losing my phone number if I can't use it once a month.

[Haukmin]

yes, I tried. 

Haukmin

[Christopher_G]

Did you use the SIM card whilst you were in the UK to send a text message or make a phone call, @Haukmin?

Chris

[Haukmin]

Yes. I did use it as my only SIM card in the UK, including calling (both charged and free calls), SMSing, buying PAYG packages monthly, and topping up.

After I've arrived in my country, I only got a message from 150 (To use data on your phone, you need an add-on or pack).
That's all. I do not want to use data with my EE SIM here, but I want to keep it alive while I'm still here.

Kind regards

Haukmin

[Christopher_G]

OK thanks @Haukmin. It sounds like your SIM is set up for international roaming, since you received that text message.

Are you in an area that has good mobile coverage?

Chris

[Haukmin]

Yes, I do have. However, I'm quite why I couldn't use my EE sim even with my remaining 5 GBP inside. 

Haukmin

[Christopher_G]

Your pack data doesn't cover you for roaming, @Haukmin. You would need to purchase a roaming data add-on from the link that you received on the 'welcome' message.

Chris

[Haukmin]

Thank you for your concern, Chris. As I mentioned above, I do not want to use a roaming data with EE SIM, but I just want to keep it alive by sending a SMS or calling someone with that. 

Haukmin

[XRaySpeX]

& you should be able to do that up to extent of £5 providing it hasn't gone into hibernation.

[Haukmin]

Yeah. Unfortunately, I could do nothing. 

[James_B]

What type of phone are you using, @Haukmin?

James