SIM card deactivation, lost credit. Is it legal?

rfloubo

Some networks have the practice of deactivating the sim card if you don't make a call for some months. This happens without any warning and you lose whatever credit you have on the card.
Did anyone ever recoup their money?
Is this even legal?

fwor

If it's clearly stated that this is what will happen in the Terms and Conditions of use of their service (believe me, it will be) then you don't stand a chance of getting your money back.

culpepper

you can ring their free number (for checking your balance)to keep the sim activated.

spakkker

Are you sure that you lose the credit ? I thought they say they will take the no. which is inconvenient but no mention of any credit balance.

davester

You have to call to request the balance, Ofcom have complained about this policy of "no refund if no asky". But just ring their number, or even home number and not answer. If you set a monthly alarm to remind you then no problems.

banger9365

i email them and most of the time they turn it back on ,with in a day

John_Gray

If you are a light user, why not use Asda Mobile PAYG (4p per text, 8p per minute for 'most' numbers). You just have to use the phone within 180 days of the last time you used it (as far as I can tell from the Ts&Cs).

Beware, however, that the maximum call length is only 23 hours and 59 minutes!

rfloubo

I had two T Mobile sims and the cards just stopped working. There was nothing about this in the T&Cs when I bought them. They won't do anything by phone. They gave an address to send a letter.

Never received any response.

Figment

culpepper wrote: »

you can ring their free number (for checking your balance)to keep the sim activated.

Are you sure about this? I understood you have to make a chargeable call.

spannerzone

Figment wrote: »

Are you sure about this? I understood you have to make a chargeable call.

That's what I thought too, I seem to recall Orange said 1 chargeable call had to be made in every 6 months to keep my old PAYG active.

Figment

spannerzone wrote: »

That's what I thought too, I seem to recall Orange said 1 chargeable call had to be made in every 6 months to keep my old PAYG active.

From ASDA mobile T&Cs (The others will have similar conditions).....

3. Suspension and disconnection

3.1 We can suspend (i.e. bar) or terminate the provision of the Services (in whole or in part) without telling you (although we will, where possible, inform you that action may be taken):(a) if we are aware or have reason to believe that your Mobile or the Services or number/password used in relation to the Services is/are being used in an unauthorised, unlawful, improper or fraudulent way or for criminal activities (or has been so before, regardless of whether this is with your consent or not); (b) if we are aware or have reason to believe that your right to use any number and/or password used in relation to the Services and/or your Mobile is or has been obtained in an unauthorised, unlawful, improper or fraudulent way or for criminal activities (regardless of whether this is with your consent or not); (c) if you choose not to use the Services for a continuous period of 180 days (‘use the Services’ means (i) making any chargeable outbound calls (excluding calls to 2732, see Price Plan for prices), or (ii) any topping up of your account);