Help with EE PAYG while abroad – Cyprus, unwanted pack activated, no SMS/calls

[atb202]

Hi everyone,

I have a UK EE number and I’m currently in Cyprus. I recently topped up £5, but calls and outgoing SMS do not work. In the EE app, it says that a £10 pack is pending and will be activated when I top up more than £10. But I do not want to use any packs — I only want to pay standard PAYG rates.

At the same time, I suspect roaming is not properly enabled on my line — I can’t send any SMS, not even to 150. Outgoing calls also don’t go through. I tried calling EE support, but the call stays silent and does not disconnect. Incoming SMS do work, so I know the SIM is still active. Outgoing SMS do not work, even though the SMSC is set correctly.

So here are my main questions:

1. Do I really have to top up another £5 to activate that £10 pack?

2. What happens when that pack expires — will I be stuck again with no service until I top up for another one?

3. Is there a way to disable this pack and go fully PAYG, with no automatic bundles and using my current £5?

4. How can I check if roaming is enabled on my line if I can’t send SMS or call?

I would really appreciate any advice from others who’ve dealt with this. I can’t get in touch with EE support, and there’s no live chat. Maybe someone here can help.

Thank you in advance!

[XRaySpeX]

1. Not if you don't want to.
2. The pack can't expire. It hasn't even started. It's only pending.
3. No need. It hasn't even started.
4. Had you used that PAYG SIM for making calls or texts in UK before going 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.

[atb202]

XRaySpeX ,thank you very much for the answer!

No, this SIM card was activated while I was already in Cyprus. Returning to the UK is not an option right now. So does that mean I should just throw the SIM away, since there’s no other way to make it work?

As I understand it, the £5 I topped up is lost anyway? There's no way to transfer it to my another number (not on EE)?

[XRaySpeX]

1. 1 other way: Send it to a pal in UK to activate & send it back.
2. PAYG credit is not generally refundable nor transferable, & certainly not to non-EE.

Thanks! You're welcome 🙂 ! Glad I could be of assistance & trust it is now sorted.