topic Re: Invalid sim in Get Support

Invalid sim

astronaut — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 20:26:37 GMT

My partner was with PM and decided to go elsewhere. Her account is now deactivated/deleted from PM. I have her sim and would like to try PM for myself. When I go to create an account with her old sim it tells me the number is invalid. I have checked the number a bunch of times and I have tried a different browser (Firefox/Chrome) as others in the community have suggested.

Any idea how this sim can be reactivated? Thanks!

Re: Invalid sim

NDesai — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 23:46:22 GMT

@astronaut Once the sim is used, it cannot be used again to activate another line. You will need to purchase new PM sim from Walmart/wow mobile/k mobile or online.

Re: Invalid sim

ute1978 — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 23:46:52 GMT

Has your partner ported out the number to the new carrier? Then the SIM at Public Mobile and the account becomes invalid. If you want to try out Public Mobile you have to order a new SIM card.

EDIT: @NDesai beat me by 29 seconds.

Re: Invalid sim

astronaut — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 00:18:31 GMT

Thank you for the prompt replies. Seems like a ripoff and cash grab to me. Time to rethink moving to PM.

Re: Invalid sim

NDesai — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 00:21:37 GMT

@astronautwrote:
Thank you for the prompt replies. Seems like a ripoff and cash grab to me. Time to rethink moving to PM.

Doesn't matter what carrier sim, you won't be able to use already used sim to activate again.

Re: Invalid sim

ute1978 — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 00:40:26 GMT

wrote:
Thank you for the prompt replies. Seems like a ripoff and cash grab to me. Time to rethink moving to PM.

Just for your information: ALL mobile phone carriers have the same policy, that if you port out your number the account from the previous carrier gets deleted.

Re: Invalid sim

Acekiller — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 18:54:00 GMT

I wonder why the carriers can't reuse the sim cards?

Re: Invalid sim

computergeek541 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 04:29:21 GMT

wrote:
I wonder why the carriers can't reuse the sim cards?

I most likely answer that I can think of is that they jsut don't want to allow it. There really isn't anything preventing it from being done. In fact, sometimes when a carrier deactivates someone's service either by request or by accident, and even then proceeds to close out the account, carriers do have the ability to reactivate the old sim card.

Also, the carriers want to get you into the store. By requiring pruchase of a new sim card, that gives them a sale opportunity to potentially up-sell you. Although it may be wasteful, sim cards are generally considered to be inexpensie and disposable. And while, I'm sure that sim cards are usually very durable, it's probably never a bad idea to start off with a new sim whenever activating a new service. Sim cards that have been previously used my have been had the electrical contacts heavily scratched or the sim cards may have been exposded to the effects of ESD.

The carriers also likely don't want to have to deal with potentially having to keep track of multiple customer information of people who have used that same sim card before.