"Sim Swapping"

NH2012

Hello, apologies newbie here! Just got a quick query as I was given advice today from a highstreet phone shop/'warehouse' and I think what I was told was...iffy, so would like to run it by some experts!

I have a very good, recently signed sim-only contract with Voda but my phone is typically now giving up the ghost. I've identified a new phone, which sim-free from this highstreet shop would have been pretty expensive. However online they also sold the same phone on a pay-as-you-go deal with Voda for a good £100 less. Looked appealing.

I was advised that I definitely could not buy the cheaper one and just use my current sim in it, ignoring the one it came with, as that would be "sim-swapping" and it would be detected and the phone would be barred for 12 months. The exact words I was told.

Can anyone verify this?

Thanks for your help!

Jon_01

The network servers log the imei and the sim number every time you use your phone (that's how blacklisting and barring works).

While they do log sim swapping, you'd have to do it with very many different handsets for anything to flag up and the network to look at what you're doing.
If it's just the odd 2 or 3 phones then you've nothing to be concerned about. . .

Emy1501

Never heard of this before. We have 3 contracts in the family on sim only and have bought about 5 pay as u go phones to use with the sim only phone. P4U and CPW phones tend to be unlocked and sales advisers have even suggested buying the one on the cheapest network and sticking in another networks sim.

I have never had a phone blocked for this. Just look at the G300 thread and see how many people have bought this phone from Vodafone and unblocked it. Have not heard of anyone having the phone blocked.

Sounds like sales person looking for commision.

InMyDreams

I needed a spare handset a few months ago to stick a giffgaff sim in. Cheapest 'unlocked' one I could find at the time was a PAYG Virgin one from CPW, just a couple of quid or something, but I had to buy £10 worth of Virgin credit too. Was still the cheapest (and cheaper than buying sim-free). I never even opened the envelope with the Virgin sim in and just stuck my giffgaff sim in. Worked no problem.

NH2012

Thanks for all the replies!

I didn't trust the sales person one bit, suspected that he just wanted me to agree to buy the more expensive one there and then. The whole IMEI logging thing did seem plausible for a suitable context, but this was not it...!

Shame though, as EMY1501 says, in the past I have been able to do this, and been helped even by CPW staff - but thats was donkeys years ago so I wasnt sure if things had changed. I tend not to change phones too often as I'm more a contract orientated person.

Guess that's part and parcel of trying to save some dough: having to put up with the odd bit of deception and scare-mongering! Sadly others less suspicious than myself will get tricked.

Thank-you all!

Buzby

Probably because the commission they get for selling the PAYG handset MAY be clawed back if you do not top up - which is often the reason they insist you purchase a top up of £10 (which you then use up, and throw away when spent).

In CW's favour, is their handsets are rarely (ever?) locked to a network - as they use the stock with whichever network sale or upgrade is required. In effect, the same box is put in front of you on the counter - the price is dynamic based on how you do the 'deal'.

Chorlie

I've done this several times, I have a Sim Only Contract and just buy a PAYG phone on the same network, then stick my Sim into it. I've never once had an issue.

I also have a GiffGaff Sim in a Virgin PAYG Phone and my parents have GiffGaff Sims in Vodafone PAYG Phones, they just wanted the cheapest phone possible and this worked out cheapest 1p plus £10 Top-Up for the phones and a free GiffGaff Sim with £10 of credit on each (plus referral credit for me)...