Beware of Three Mobile PAYG Preloaded data sims!!!

Talbot

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After a lengthy 2 hours online chat/complaint with a Three Mobile customer services representative, I was staggered to learn that the moment you buy a Three data sim it is immediately activated by Three and countdown begins. I purchased a 3 month, 3GB data sim last November that would easily have covered the duration of our trip. When we got to France it didn't work and I had no connection and was forced to buy a French orange sim which worked perfectly. Last year I bought 3 Three sims and they worked perfectly fine in Europe. I said to the representative that she must be wrong because the sales person in my local Three shop told me they don't expire and they are only triggered upon manual activation. I told her if Three's own employees are confused it's no wonder their customers are equally confused. Apparently it is at the discretion of Three, that if a sim lies dormant for several months they may decide to cut the service off. This is the explanation that I was given hot off the press today. In summary, your 30 days starts ticking the moment you buy your sim and when you eventually activate your sim it is at the sole discretion of Three whether they allow you to use your purchased data. She thanked me for my comments and raised the necessary paperwork to senior management advising them that in branch training is required to ensure a seamless and coherent message is delivered to all customers buying sims. So beware as you might be buying fresh air with your money.
 
I had a similar experience last year when the gadget didn't do what it said on the tin. To cut a long story short I found myself in contact with the CEO's PA and my contract was cancelled immediately and a refund was made. Barge poles rule OK?
 
The big question is how do they know a particular sim card has been sold, particularly when they are sold through a 3rd party. That after all is why usually you have to activate the cards, sounds like porkies to me.
 
maxi77 said:
The big question is how do they know a particular sim card has been sold, particularly when they are sold through a 3rd party. That after all is why usually you have to activate the cards, sounds like porkies to me.
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No the shop im told now by law regesters them at point of sale so they know if terroists etc buy them and can be tracked.
But how does that work if you buy on ebay,i think they make it up as they go along.
 
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siimplyloco said:
I had a similar experience last year when the gadget didn't do what it said on the tin. To cut a long story short I found myself in contact with the CEO's PA and my contract was cancelled immediately and a refund was made. Barge poles rule OK?
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I had a 3 month and a one month sim card. Both did not work in Europe. Yesterday I got a 12 month sim card after I complained free of charge. This week end we are of to Germany to get some repairs done to my MH and visit my family so will be using it then. lets see what happens.
 
David & Ann said:
I had a 3 month and a one month sim card. Both did not work in Europe. Yesterday I got a 12 month sim card after I complained free of charge. This week end we are of to Germany to get some repairs done to my MH and visit my family so will be using it then. lets see what happens.
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You need to activate them in the UK first.
 
Whilst not disputing what you were told, i have used very many of these pre-loaded sims and still have some purchased 3 years ago (when there was a good offer on) i am still using these and never had an issue. Regarding the activating when purchasing for 'tracking purposes' how does that work when you buy from a market stall for cash? in fact if i recall on the packaging it says 30 days from first use (i could be wrong on that but will check)
Dave
 
Like dr dave i also have some 1GB / 30 Days ones which i bought on offer last year.

I`ve never had a problem with them even after a year or so sat in the drawer before first use.

I will be activating a new one soon ready for the Motorhome Show at Malvern this weekend.

I`ll report back later.
 
Hi honey, i`m back :wave:

Put a new 1GB / 30 Days one in and it`s working fine :banana: i`m using it now to put this post on :dance: This data sim was bought in March 2015 :scared:
 
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Still working :wave:

The only downside to the Three data sims is that they Have To Be Activated In The UK First. You cannot activate a new one abroad.

Once activated they are fine to use abroad. Just pop one in, turn it on and once it`s connected that`s it job done you can turn it off and it`s ready to use abroad.
 
Contract with 3 may be better

I have used £ Payg . OK in England but no connection abroad (2015)

This year I went for £10 a month contract.
Again it did not work in France initially.
So rang up 3
Sorted
problem 1 you need to tell them if you want to use it abroad so they can change a setting (on their server(s))
problem 2 with a Mi-fi device you have to create a new profiles with certain settings.
The customer sservice guy was helpful and even rang me back as I whinged about paying the cost off the mobile call.
I have upped the data allowance to 10GB and so the cost is now £16 a month.
When I am usig it less this can go back to £10 a month.
So far 4 months in France Belgium Germany The Netherlands Denmark Norway (6 weeks) Finland and now Sweden.
NO EXTRA roaming charges in Scandinavia but some in others countries
VG coverage ... I have hardly been without a connection

At the moment they get my vote !
 
Just " unboxed" my latest one ( which, incidentally came with a customs label from Switzerland, stated value £12.99).
Nothing to suggest the time limit starts from purchase. Only reference is " by inserting and using your sim you are accepting our terms and privacy notice...."
And "you just need to use your sim ... At least once every six months to keep your account active"

I'm wondering whether inserting the sim but not using it within the six months would cause the OP situation?
For example, if I had a dual sim phone it's likely I would have inserted this data sim in the spare slot to keep it safe and then ignored it until we went away never realising that I had activated it.
Seems unlikely, esp as the terms say 'insert AND use' but who knows.....?
 
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trevskoda said:
No the shop im told now by law regesters them at point of sale so they know if terroists etc buy them and can be tracked.
But how does that work if you buy on ebay,i think they make it up as they go along.
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Not quite sure how they do that as the sim is in a sealed packet and the average shop till simply records the stock number and has no connection to the mobile phone company. Go into any pound shop and the sim cards are on a self service display. Cheaper in Primark though at 40p a card
 
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