how SIM cards expiration work in the UK?

ortorob

Hello,

I apologize if this question may be stupid or just "basic", however I am moving from Italy to UK for a while and I'd like to have your advice.

In Italy, all SIM cards expire after 12 months from the last top up. You can even charge 1000 pounds today and use the SIM everyday but if you do not top up after 12 months, the SIM card will be deactivated.

How does this work in UK in particular for Tesco mobile pay-to-go SIM cards? Is there any expiration from the last top up? or the expiration is related to non-use of the SIM?

Another question: I bought a Tesco SIM on ebay. The SIM was ready-to-go and already active. I had to just put it in the phone and it works. No one asked me for my personal data. Do I have to do a mandatory registration of my personal data to be associated to the SIM card and validate it? or can I leave it "anonymous" as it is now?

Thanks

ZhugeEX

For some networks it's 6 months.
For others it's 12 months.

I think for tesco it's 12 months but i'm not sure. Maybe someone else knows here or you can call tesco Customer service to find out.

You can leave the sim card as anonymous for now, The only time you need to validate is to top up with a credit card or when speaking to customer services.

ortorob

6 or 12 months for non-usage or from last top up?

ZhugeEX

ortorob wrote: »

6 or 12 months for non-usage or from last top up?

Sorry, i mean non usage.

So you have to make a chargeable call/text at least once in a 6/12 month period.

Buzby

Neither - it HAS to be a chargeable event. (Text, SMS, data use etc). If you used it for incoming calls only, it would still be suspended.

NFH

Buzby wrote: »

Neither - it HAS to be a chargeable event. (Text, SMS, data use etc). If you used it for incoming calls only, it would still be suspended.

In theory, yes, but in practice this doesn't happen. I have multiple SIMs from the main networks with zero credit on which I receive a brief incoming call every six months; they never expire.

Orange used to have an official policy of it being sufficient only to receive a communication every six months. Their T&Cs have recently changed but they no doubt continue to operate in this way unofficially like the other networks do.

ortorob

thank you for your kind answers.

So in a few words, if I top up, let's say, 200 pounds today and I use the SIM and spent 1 pound a month, then the SIM will be still active after 200 months with no need to top up again in the meanwhile?

Thank you again.

NFH

ortorob wrote: »

So in a few words, if I top up, let's say, 200 pounds today and I use the SIM and spent 1 pound a month, then the SIM will be still active after 200 months with no need to top up again in the meanwhile?

Yes, that's the norm in many countries and for specific networks in some countries. Italy unfortunately isn't one of them. In France, it's even worse where credit often expires after a few days.

It would be nice if the European Commission enforced a minimum 3-month expiry after no balance deductions across the EU. As someone who buys local SIM cards when travelling, such consumer-friendly legislation would be of great benefit.

Im_just_careful

One other point.

In the UK, unlike some other European countries, there doesn't seem to be a legal requirement to register a SIM to a person.

As a result SIMs are available in lots of small shops and you can buy them for cash.

As others have said, there is generally a minimum spend requirement to keep a "Pay As You Go" SIM active.

There are lots of "Networks" but really 4 physical networks, Vodafone, o2, EE (Orange & T-Mobile) and "3"

Assuming you are interested in data, Lycamobile, Giffgaff and "3" might be worth a look.

gjchester

ZhugeEX wrote: »

For some networks it's 6 months.
For others it's 12 months.

I think for tesco it's 12 months but i'm not sure. Maybe someone else knows here or you can call tesco Customer service to find out

I thought it was 6 months for most networks but 3 months for others not 12 months.

ortorob wrote:

So in a few words, if I top up, let's say, 200 pounds today and I use the SIM and spent 1 pound a month, then the SIM will be still active after 200 months with no need to top up again in the meanwhile?

Correct, however you may want to think how you will phone and how much you top up, depending on the tariff some deals offer extra's (such as free calls or data) for the month after you top up, it may be better to top up little (usually £10 or more a month) and often to get these perks, than to top up in one go.

Another thought is that calling any non UK number (be it landline or mobile) from a UK mobile is not cheap, a calling card service, or Skype may be a far cheaper option than to use the phone credit to call back home.

d123

gjchester wrote: »

Another thought is that calling any non UK number (be it landline or mobile) from a UK mobile is not cheap, a calling card service, or Skype may be a far cheaper option than to use the phone credit to call back home.

There are UK virtual networks with very cheap international calls, I can think of Lyca, Lebara and White Mobile as examples.

White Mobile international calls are actually as cheap or cheaper than national calls in many cases (3p USA, 4p Italy, 2p Australia and 3p/6p National)