Do you use a comping mobile phone?

Marg2k8

I thought that I would warn you all what has happened to me, so that hopefully you won't fall into the same trap.

I used an old Nokia for comping with a PAYG simcard in it.

I have had it for years and the number is registered on hundreds of sites I use for competitions.

I haven't used it for any chargeable service for over a year and now it is saying 'simcard registration failed'. I was on the Asda network and so I contacted Asda mobile enquiring about it and it seems that the number is removed from the network to be recycled and I cannot reconnect it.:(

I have obviously agreed to these terms of use at some point in time and cannot do anything about it. So now I may have won a prize and never find out about it, but even more annoying, I have to update my profile on all the sites I use.

I will get another sim card and will make sure that every couple of months, I use it for at least one call or text to stop the same happening again.

Hopefully, at least one of you will take heed of my warning and not be in the same situation as me.

Misslayed

Oh no! What a bummer! Really sorry you had to learn the hard way, but thank you for sharing this.

rceebear

I had this with a mobile (pre comping) that I didn't use simply because I have no signal where I live but had in case of emergencies when in the car etc. From memory texting wasn't deemed as sufficient to keep the number active, it had to be calls. This may no longer be the case but something to check. I can't remember which network it was.

weeowens

Seems like six months is the break point:

https://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Solve-your-questions/Why-is-my-phone-number-deactivated/ta-p/8210492

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Pay-As-You-Go/SIM-Card-deactivated-how-to-get-it-reactivated/td-p/153125

http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly-and-Pay-Go/how-long-before-a-PAYG-sim-gets-disconnected/td-p/521356

mjm3346

This blog lists most mobile cut-offs


http://kenstechtips.com/index.php/payg-inactivity-account-termination-and-credit-expiry

Marg2k8

Asda told me

"There are 3 different stages your SIM will go through if not used.


The first is a restriction where a chargeable service has not been used within a period of 180 days and all outgoing services are stopped. The second is suspension, if a SIM has not been used for a further 90 days, all services are stopped and any account credit expires. The final stage is when a SIM card is left for a further 90 days totaling a year and the number is then removed from the network to be recycled."


It is a shame that you don't get a text to advise you at each stage.