Sim for elderly person help

pope

I dont think its a PUK code issue. Its just been blocked.

pope

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81974774#Comment_81974774

Yes the o2 classic 123 sim card is what i am looking at on Ebay. If I purchase the simcard will it activate its self when I insert it into the phone?

With the £10 top will this need to be done every month?

ScratchyCat

Yes o2 sim activated on its own. Just ask for a top up voucher at your supermarket. Ring the o2 number and enter the 16 digit or might have been 12 digit code. The £10 will be a one off. Last you for ages. Given if you make a call once every couple of months.

O2 is 3p a minute or 2p for a text. They will charge you for the minute even if you cut the call off after a few seconds. But what's 3p to keep the phone active. You could do a text equally. The £10 will last you years.

RWG have low tariffs, im with them also but on a deal they've now scrapped for new customers. But they do a tariff for about £2 a month but that's a monthly top up. But still a good deal.

1p mobile is cheap tariff but that will have to be a be £10 top up every 120 days to keep active. So approx £30 a year.

Other low pay monthly tariffs are around £5 a month.

redux

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81974774#Comment_81974774

I don't know if it's still true, but registering it for an online account would add £5 bonus credit

(Still needs top up, this is not instead of)

They've just spontaneously added a further £5 to mine, after a replacement SIM and registering that on the new website version. So I I've had £20.75 credit from an initial £10 six years ago, and there is still nearly £10 left

ScratchyCat

@redux I didnt get any extra when I got my o2 sim last year, but I only got the sim as a back up. I've only used about £4 of the 10 I put on. I still haven't managed to access the online part either through the website or downloading the app. I did read though that this has happened for a few people and o2 hadn't fixed it. So that would account for no extra £5 maybe. I can check the balance by calling so im not to bothered. But thanks for the heads up. I might see if I can login to the website.

PHK

I think people have missed something.

Most models of Artfone are 2G only. Whilst the 2G network isn't being switched off yet. O2 started migrating customers away from it in 2024.

Tesco did it last year when they changed to Essentials and some older SIM cards needed replacing.

Its's possible your mother received texts about this but didn't realise she had to respond.

For safety reasons, it's best to put a vulnerable person on a low cost contract, you won't have to remember to top- up or make a call to keep the line active.

You'll see deals in the mobile deals section from £1 a month.

ScratchyCat

@redux Just wanted to thank you. I have just successfully manged to login to the o2 website after numerous previous failed attempts. O2 must have fixed the login issue finally.

As a result of gaining access O2 has also just credited me with an additional £5 to my sim. Much appreciated.

KxMx

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81975200#Comment_81975200

Exactly. I clung to PAYG on my main number because that was what I was used to. As a low user I didn't think the convenience & peace of mind was worth the extra money.

Once I went to a low cost 30 day rolling contract though I never looked back and convinced my Mum to change, who also realised how great it was once she was on it too.