Sim that doesn't disconnect you?

JamesO

I have an old pay and go sim from back when orange still existed.

I get annoyed every now and then when I find out I can't receive a text I'm waiting for because I've been disconnected (which also seems to mean I lose any credit that was on the account).

That's because I'm basically always connected to wifi and more or less exclusively use either iMessage or WhatsApp

I know I could set a reminder to send a text or something but realistically I don't and that's not going to change.

Is there any option out there that just won't disconnect someone for not making a chargeable text/call? I'm happy to pay a monthly fee/have a contract (assuming it's not a huge amount).

I just don't want to have to think about it or be hanging around waiting for a 2 factor text that doesn't arrive because I've not been told they've disconnected me again.

born_again

MSE have a page dedicated to your needs 🤦‍♀️

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/sim-only/

JamesO

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892518#Comment_81892518

Thank you… could you please point me to where on that page it says they won't disconnect you if you don't use the phone (such as when the initial contract period ends and you go onto their default deal)?

I couldn't see it when I looked at the page before posting, but obviously that's my error.

born_again

Don't think any will not disconnect you, so you will have to check each co's T/C

Neil_Jones

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6656201/sim-that-doesn-039-t-disconnect-you

Where possible you could switch out 2FA texts for something like Google Authenticator for those services that can do that. You wouldn't then be dependent on texts being sent to a suspended account.

Neil49

Set up a calendar based reminder for every 6 months and be done with it.

Kim_13

As far as I'm aware the only SIMs that won't disconnect you are those on a contract, in that they will keep providing the service for as long as you keep paying for it. So if calendar reminders won't do the job, then it may be necessary to obtain the cheapest contract you can find.

sarahTT

Possibly a spusu SIM. I've asked them how many days/weeks/months of non-use before they suspend or cancel a SIM and they told me they never suspend a SIM as long as the monthly payment comes in. I say possibly because their CS guys sometimes give wrong or misleading information, happened already twice. You could call them and ask or perhaps better use their (slow) WhatsApp channel as this is a written statement.

Detail_Merchant

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892719#Comment_81892719

I think what you need to do on that search is change from "MSE top picks" to "All deals" then on the left side scroll down to the "Contract length" part of the filter and un-tick the PAYG option, just leaving the specific lengths such as 1 mth (rolling), 6 mth, etc.

I think any PAYG arrangement will disconnect you if you don't make a chargeable text, call, or use of data, for too long. So what you need is a deal where you pay some money monthly, which you said you were potentially willing to do. If you are paying money each month then I don't think any provider will disconnect you.

You may also want to change the "Data" part of the filter to "Any" or "3GB +" depending on your needs.

Unfortunately the results are sorted by effective cost, which can include earlier some deals with a higher per month cost after some low cost introductory months.

But if you scroll past those you should see deals for around £4+/month ongoing, though nothing is guaranteed never to change.

Spusu, as @sarahTT mentioned, offer £3.90/month for 3GB of data, then there are a couple with no data for £4/month and a couple with 5GB of data for £4.50/month.