Lyca Mobile 5GB UK Smart Plan contradictory T&C details.

seefer

Greetings all.

I'm looking at the Lyca Mobile 5GB UK Smart Plan eSim deal but when I click on the Terms & Conditions link on this product page I see the following:

Data Allowance for

Existing Online Customers : 3GB

New Offline Customers : 3GB

Existing Offline Customers : 2GB

This clearly contradicts the 5GB data package title so what the heck should I expect here? Am I to assume as well as the cheap new customer price for the first month, which changes to £5 thereafter, I can also expect the package data limit to drop to 3GB? The price change is made clear but the possible drop in data limit is not. Are there any Lyca mobile users here?

Also, the contact us details on the Lyca website all seem to be specific to existing customers. The online form asks for Lyca number and all the automated options on the 0207 132 0322 number seem specific to existing customers. Are Lyca not interested in speaking with new customers to contact them with pre-sales queries?

seefer

Also, I'm trying to register on the Lyca website in preparation to buy this eSim package and I cannot submit my registration without a PUC code. I bought a Google Pixel 4 new and unlocked and I've been using a TESCO PAYG sim-only so far. Aren't PUK codes only for locked phones you buy from providers with your chosen package?

Bit of a noob with all this so any help appreciated.

savergrant

I think they want the PUK code off your sim housing. It is on the back above the sim number barcode. I suspect that is their security that you are the owner of the sim. It may be that you took the sim out of the housing and threw the housing away though.

virgo17

seefer said:

Aren't PUK codes only for locked phones you buy from providers with your chosen package?

Bit of a noob with all this so any help appreciated.

The PUK code is used when you enter your PIN code incorrectly three times and lock yourself out your SIM card. It is not used to unlock a phone that is restricted/locked to one network. Funnily enough, that is called an unlock code and is different.

The PUK code can be used as security. For example, when 1P mobile send you a new SIM card they ask you to enter a code on their web page which they send you in an email, to activate the card. In the case of 1P mobile, this security code is the same code as the PUK code printed on the SIM retainer.

HTH

savergrant

virgo17 said:

seefer said:

Aren't PUK codes only for locked phones you buy from providers with your chosen package?

Bit of a noob with all this so any help appreciated.

The PUK code is used when you enter your PIN code incorrectly three times and lock yourself out your SIM card. It is not used to unlock a phone that is restricted/locked to one network. Funnily enough, that is called an unlock code and is different.

The PUK code can be used as security. For example, when 1P mobile send you a new SIM card they ask you to enter a code on their web page which they send you in an email, to activate the card. In the case of 1P mobile, this security code is the same code as the PUK code printed on the SIM retainer.

HTH

Information from uswirch;
"You may want to unlock your phone because you want to use it with another SIM card, or because you’ve decided to switch networks.

You’ll also need to get a PUK code in the event that you mistakenly enter the wrong PIN code and you are automatically locked out.

Depending on the network you’re signed up to, you may be allowed up three incorrect tries, or up to ten. Either way, when a phone is locked by the network in these circumstances, you’ll need a PUK to unlock it before you can start using your phone again.

A PAC (porting authorisation code) is very different. Like a PUK, it’s a unique sequence of digits and plays a role when you’re switching networks. But a PAC code is only required when you want to transfer your existing mobile phone number to the network you’re joining.

How do I get a PUK?

Remember the plastic container tray that your SIM card came in when it arrived? Well, in the unlikely event that you had the foresight to keep it safe, you’ll be able to find your PUK written on the tray.

If you weren’t that forward-looking, you’ll need to get a PUK from your network"

virgo17

savergrant said:

Either way, when a phone is locked by the network in these circumstances, you’ll need a PUK to unlock it before you can start using your phone again.

Uswitch are not correct. The SIM is not locked by the network. It is locked by an algorithm embedded in the SIM card chip which disables access when the required PIN has been entered incorrectly a set number of times, usually three. The figure of ten incorrect entries usually applies to ten incorrect attempts to enter the PUK which will result in the SIM becoming permanently unusable. There is nothing the network could do in this circumstance except replacement as the SIM is a bin job.

There is no need for a network signal to reset a SIM with a PUK code as the function is an entirely internal to the SIM.

savergrant

Tbh I did think it odd that a network would lock a phone and then send you an unlock code for it with your sim!  There is clearly a distinction between unlocking the phone and unlocking the sim.
However op is looking to order an esim product and lyca appear to be asking for a puk for a sim op doesn't have. I am more familiar with esim as a sim swap for a physical sim and believe this is what lyca are setup to do.

virgo17

savergrant said:

There is clearly a distinction between unlocking the phone and unlocking the sim.

However op is looking to order an esim product and lyca appear to be asking for a puk for a sim op doesn't have

Indeed. The code to network unlock a phone acts upon the phone hardware whereas the PUK solely acts upon the SIM card.

Looks to me like Lyca have either misinterpreted the OP's request or are showing an unacceptable level of incompetence.

Dr.Rock

Lyca mobile are indeed unacceptably incompetent and don't have any interest in speaking to anyone. Don't bother reading their terms and conditions as they don't have any interest in adhering to them and, as you have seen, they are full of inconsistencies.
The best advice is to find a SIM deal on another network and go with them. If you already haves signed up with Lyca, cancel, get your PAC and go over to a proper provider.