27-04-2025 03:04 PM
Hi, my 73 year old mother who really doesn't understand Mobile phones has a pay as you go SIM. She only really uses this phone for emergencies when out of the house. She tried to make a call today and an automated message said the message in the topic title. She was a bit confused as she was sure she would still have credit but asked me to top up for her as I usually do. The message also happened for ringing 150 which I thought a little odd but topped up online instead. A text came through confirming the top up but the same thing is happening when trying to make calls. I'm also now unable to phone her.
She has not had any messages come through saying her sim will be deactivated so I'm not sure what is going on. I have tried ringing for help but keep going round in circles and not able to actually talk to anyone. I'm not sure what to do. She doesn't use it much but she really does need her phone for emergencies.
27-04-2025 03:23 PM
What are the first 5 digits of the number your mother was trying to call? Try texting BALANCE to 150 - what's received by response?
PAYG lines need to be used for a chargeable call or text at least once every 6months else they are hibernated and have ~3months grace to reactivate. When did your mother last make a chargeable call or send a chargeable text?
27-04-2025 04:08 PM
Nothing is happening when I send BALANCE
It looks like she hasn't used it since August but no message was received to say it would be going in to hibernation. Is there an easy way to reactivate?
27-04-2025 04:15 PM
A PAYG line last used in August would have been hibernated around February. You need to contact EE-CS from any other working phone, to reactivate it. The 9month absolute limit will be May, so I would make that call ASAP.
27-04-2025 10:00 PM
As it probably went into hibernation in about Feb., topping-up now will not reactivate it.