Old mobile phone shows emergency calls only

cepheus

Hi I have an old Samsung 1080i and the screen displays 'emergency calls only' when trying to dial out any number. Is this a sign of the SIM not working? The signal is fine. I've also slid the SIM in and out, and turned on and off, but I get the same message when dialling.

I've had the phone switched off for a month, so not sure if that's anything to do with it. The battery and operation seems OK except for this.

I use it on a top up PAYG basis from O2 there should be about £10 of calls left in it.

Norman_Castle

It sounds like there's no credit on it. Ask O2 where your credit has gone.

Does it receive calls? Can you try the sim in another phone?

cepheus

Actually, I've just been onto O2.

They disconnected it due to lack of use, there needs to be one chargeable call every 6 months. I'm surprised I haven't used it for so long. Of course they tell you by text rather than Email! But they will reconnect without charge.

Uxb

When did you last use it to make a chargeable call?
O2 (as do many others) will disconnect a PAYG phone not used for a chargeable event after 6 months - and the stored credit is lost.

I've managed to get one reconnected to O2 by calling them and the credit re-instated after such an occurrence.

Edit - you added your reply while I was typing

forgotmyname

O2 appear to be hot on cutting phone off with credit on them.

FIL passed away and we had bought him a Doro? emergency phone with the red button to auto dial a number.

It was not much more than a month when i went to check the balance and it had been disconnected.
Could not be bothered to contact them, just wont use O2 ever for an emergency phone.

We have an old orange pay as you go phone, where you use it and they bill you monthly for any use. No use and no charge.
They used to pay 27p to send the bill for 1 - 3p.
Eventually they stopped sending the bills, but even after 6+ years its still active.

psychic_teabag

forgotmyname wrote: »

O2 appear to be hot on cutting phone off with credit on them... just wont use O2 ever for an emergency phone.

I'm pretty sure they all do the same thing - need a chargeable event every 6 months or so.

giffgaff do send me an email to remind me that I need to make a call soon, which is a lot more useful than a text since the device is turned off in car glove-box.

We have an old orange pay as you go phone, where you use it and they bill you monthly for any use. No use and no charge.
They used to pay 27p to send the bill for 1 - 3p.
Eventually they stopped sending the bills, but even after 6+ years its still active.

Hmm - we were with orange (now EE), and both had sims deactivated. with loss of payg credit, because I forgot to make calls in time. But sounds like you have a different sort of contract.