IKEA Family Mobile SIM replacement charge!

jakx_2

Hi

My girlfriend has been on PAYG with Family Mobile since the beginning of 2010.

Her 'elderly' (Sony Ericsson) phone uses the standard SIM card.

I have now given her my iPhone 4, which requires a micro SIM.

Upon checking the Family Mobile website it appears that they charge £5:00 to send out a replacement SIM?

Also 'seems' that as soon as you request the new SIM you can't use the phone until it arrives.

Bearing in mind that this micro SIM is not a replacement for a lost or stolen card/phone; firstly, why should there be a charge and, secondly, why would the phone be effectively blocked - while you wait?

Anyone here have experience of this

NFH

jakx wrote: »

secondly, why would the phone be effectively blocked - while you wait?

It's because IKEA is activating the new SIM as soon as it is despatched instead of waiting until you have received it. The main networks stopped this bad practice over ten years ago.

Why not port the number to another network, for example to Three or Toggle? Crucially for an iPhone, what is IKEA's charge for data? You shouldn't pay more than around 1p/MB or £10/GB on average.

Neil49

You could have the existing sim cut down to size in a phone shop. The micro sim has the same size 'chip' as a standard sim, it is just the cardboard mount that is smaller.

I recently changed phones and Carphonewarehouse chopped my full size sim down to a micro sim in seconds. I believe they charge £5 for the service although I got it for free as I had bought my new phone from them. I am sure there are plenty of phone shops around who would do the same for less.

The advice of NFH is also well worth considering as payg charges have dropped considerably and you may not be getting a good deal. I'm on 3 payg where calls cost 3p per min, texts 2p and data 1p per megabyte. Ovivo are also well worth considering.

jakx_2

Neil49 wrote: »

You could have the existing sim cut down to size . . . . . (and the) advice of NFH is also well worth considering as payg charges have dropped considerably and you may not be getting a good deal. I'm on 3 payg where calls cost 3p per min, texts 2p and data 1p per megabyte. Ovivo are also well worth considering.

Many thanks, I completely missed the cutting down to size option - will do that anyway and then check alternative better deals.

The data costs are, as you point out, important when moving up to a smart phone (from a semi-dumb phone).

Thanks again. :T