Free SIMS

sjpkgp

Sorry to post this on as a new thread - I should imagine it has been posted before but I keep getting a fatal error on searching.

I have got a free O2 PAYG SIM that I am thinking of putting in my old (same network) phone and putting in the car for emergencies. When you activate it with a tenner it allows you some extra Talkalot time (which you lose if you do not use it within the month) and you then have to make a call every 6 months to keep it from being barred.

I had decided to leave it unactivated until I needed it, but want to know the following.

If I leave it unactivated can I receive calls ???
If I don't activate the SIM how long will it "last" ?
Can you make an emergency 999 call on an unactivated SIM ?

Also, can anyone see any pitfalls in what I am doing, I don't want to find myself on the roadside wanting to call the AA only to find that something doesn't work as planned ?

Thanks foi advice

redux

Read this rather long thread started by MUHAMID
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=103168

A precis - register the SIM card; this earns you a £2.50 credit. Even without any top-up, the credit seems to arrive after a couple of days anyway. Then sign up for the Joining Treats offer, which gives you free minutes (different options) for 3 months - M discovered this too was possible without initial credit.

That should tide you over for 3 months, and if you still didn't use it, there will still be £2.50 on it ...

sjpkgp

Thanks for that, you are a star !

sjpkgp

I'd just like to add to my original post that the "loophole" described by Muhamid is certainly still working (for the £2.50 credit anyway). Absolutely delighted, thought it would have been closed following the stampede of MSE'rs doing it. Going to try the bolt ons tomorrow, despite a few "is this really ethical" reservations. Might as well be hung for sheep as a lamb :snow_laug

mobilegossip

sjpkgp wrote:

I'd just like to add to my original post that the "loophole" described by Muhamid is certainly still working (for the £2.50 credit anyway). Absolutely delighted, thought it would have been closed following the stampede of MSE'rs doing it. Going to try the bolt ons tomorrow, despite a few "is this really ethical" reservations. Might as well be hung for sheep as a lamb :snow_laug

The £2.50 credit is not a loophole, o2 give it to all new sim users who register.See
http://www.o2.co.uk/

The bolt on idea, is indeed a good loophole that Muhamid has brought to our attention.