A Vodafone SIM card I have in a spare phone has expired due to not being used in 90 days.  I apparently also lose any credit on this SIM (less than a tenner).

 

I was going to put this SIM in a GPS tracker.  But that presumably means I need my car to be stolen within 90 days, or I need to remember to check where it is at a frequency of less than 90 day intervals.

 

I don't want to put a contract SIM in it.

 

Is there a simple solution that's evading my 'I like to keep it simple' mind?

 

Gaz

Check Ts and Cs but I think most kill the cards after a period of time without use.

 

If it's in the GPS it'll use data so that should keep the SIM live. Maybe look for a data only PAYG sim?

I very rarely use my mobile phone, but, I ring my home telephone once a week, to keep it active, and have done so for a couple of years now, its on the pay as you go tariff.

Yeah, that nice Sunil at Vodafone told me it's in the T&Cs, which I completely accept, but it still leaves me a bit irked they've relieved me of it.  Although I appreciate Vodafone won't see it that way.

 

Will 'data only' work if it'll send me its location via text?

 

Ta

 

Gaz 

Wot Aspman said.

 

As far as I know ALL the mobile operators do this; it saves them money, they dont have to buy so many new phone numbers, just reuse the old ones.

 

I remember with Orange, as long as you used the phone once every 90 days, the money/call allowance remained active forever, but other people cancelled it after 30/60 days, even if you were slowly ploughing through it.

 

If the 90 days was up not too long ago, you could try asking them if you could reactivate the card and/or get your money back; failing that, ask if a new number can be issued to the SIM, so you can use the credit on it.

 

Not saying it will work, but sometimes its "Dont ask, Dont get".

Could try a Three, 3p 2p 1p Payg sim card.

 

Cheapest calls I believe, by a fair margin, and NO expiry date. (pretty sure on this) or minimum use.

 

You do need a 3g phone though for it to work.

Edited 24 September, 20169 yr by Tilt

I've got a TMobile sim in my commercial fridge. Alerts me if temperature goes out if spec.

It has been known to lapse 4-5 months without use. Just prodded it now & sent me a nice message - Fridge sat at 2'C

I put a tenner on it in 2-3 years ago

Wot Aspman said.

As far as I know ALL the mobile operators do this; it saves them money, they dont have to buy so many new phone numbers, just reuse the old ones.

I remember with Orange, as long as you used the phone once every 90 days, the money/call allowance remained active forever, but other people cancelled it after 30/60 days, even if you were slowly ploughing through it.

If the 90 days was up not too long ago, you could try asking them if you could reactivate the card and/or get your money back; failing that, ask if a new number can be issued to the SIM, so you can use the credit on it.

Not saying it will work, but sometimes its "Dont ask, Dont get".

Unused EE credit expires too. Most networks do this as well

Unused EE credit expires too. Most networks do this as well

 

Not all; I have  ~£6 PAYG on my GiffGaff account since before last Christmas; the remains of a £10 top up.

 

Sad, but not unexpected to hear Orange/EE/BT had stopped the practice and joined the rest of the networks in ripping their customers off financially; the things these huge multinational companies will do to get their greedy hands on a few unearned beer tokens.

This article might help with working out a best plan of attack:

 

http://kenstechtips.com/index.php/payg-inactivity-account-termination-and-credit-expiry

This article might help with working out a best plan of attack:

 

http://kenstechtips.com/index.php/payg-inactivity-account-termination-and-credit-expiry

See what I mean though. Asda at 8p 4p 5p versus Three at 3p 2p 1p. Which would you rather pay for?

 

It does look as three is a 6 month user policy but I do know the credit does not expire so long as the phone is used at least once in this time frame.

You do need a 3g phone though for it to work.

 

GPS tracker is 2G only 

 

Gaz

See what I mean though. Asda at 8p 4p 5p versus Three at 3p 2p 1p. Which would you rather pay for?

 

It does look as three is a 6 month user policy but I do know the credit does not expire so long as the phone is used at least once in this time frame.

From the blurb on my Three SIM card, it would appear that Three credit has no expiry date.

I've had an O2 payg sim card in the Audi for nearly 3 years, in that time I've added additional credit just once and made about 4 phone calls. The last one was some considerable time ago but the sim is still working.

 

I also had my old T-Mobile contract Sim ported over to payg T-Mobile to keep the number 3 years ago when I jumped ship to three and decided to change number. That Payg T-mobile sim still works today.

 

On the other hand, I used to have a Spanish orange PAYG sim and it remained valid as long as it was topped up every 12 months, we used to get a relative in spain to add a few euros every now and then to keep it alive. We decided not to use this card now, so let it lapse due to the Three "Feel at home" service which i've used quiet a lot in europe.

Correction - on #13- there seems to be a time limit on 3 useage as my ( unused for a few months SIM card tells me it's not in service).