Lebara mobile 13 July 2022 at 5:09PM in Mobiles 6 replies 593 views

maycowan

I s witched to Lebara a few months ago and was really pleased £4.90 a month on a rolling contract. Then I had a problem with my broadband and my provider EE asked me to send them a text. I couldn't do this as I kept getting a failed report. Apparently Lebara do not support sending texts to any companies including government departments.  It can only send texts to personal numbers. Is this fact known because I had no idea. Now looking for another network provider. 

flashg67

when you say a company, can you be more specific because most companies use 'normal' numbers. Is it a 'short code' number EE are using like 830000 etc as some providers block sending to these - I know Plusnet mobile used to also. EE must have another method of making contact rather than you ditching Lebara?

maycowan

It was 150. EE Sent a message and asked for my reply. When I texted back the message failed. As I said when I spoke to Lebara they said texts were only allowed to personal numbers. That's their policy.

reddwarf2002

maycowan said:

It was 150. EE Sent a message and asked for my reply. When I texted back the message failed. As I said when I spoke to Lebara they said texts were only allowed to personal numbers. That's their policy.

Did you have credit on your Lebara SIM, outside your inclusive allowance?

Edit: Could it be specific to EE i.e. you need to be on a EE mobile plan to text that number?

maycowan

I had enough credit and I was just replying to the message EE had sent. Lebara said I can only text personal numbers 

Neil49

EE should be able to provide you with an alternative as not everyone is able to respond via short code numbers. 

Lebara is one of the providers, along with Plusnet for instance (who are owned by EE), that doesn't allow you to message using short code sms numbers (unless it's to themselves or for getting your pac number when leaving them). 

Under normal circumstances it isn't an issue but occasionally (as you have discovered) you may need to use one. Very often they are used by tv and radio programmes to contact them (usually chargeable) or some banks (Barclays for instance if they want to verify who you are).

I came across this problem some time ago when I was with Plusnet and I eventually switched to another provider that allowed this functionality. 

k_man

150 is an unusual number for EE to use, as that is normally the Operator number for the actual mobile provider.
So only goes to EEs operator, if the SIM is from EE