need new sim card it seems

[kevinandj]

Hi,

I'm in Canada for a short time and have a public mobile sim card from a couple of years ago but it seems expired or something, I assume public mobile wants to charge me $10 for a sim card again so it expired the card.  However I am in downtown Vancouver with no access to mail service at the moment and it seems kind of unclear if all wal marts sell these sims or not.  Anyway can someone please confrim that sim cards do expire, can't be re activated, and how I can get a new sim card without one being mailed out?  thanks.

[computergeek541]

yeah, if it's a sim card that you used before from a few years ago, it's now useless.  If it's one that you bought a few years ago but just never used it, it would still be good to go.  The official places to buy Public Mobile sim cards are Walmart, K Mobile, and WOW.  Since you don't have access to things being mailed to your right now, online ordering is obviously out of the question.  As for your question about Walmart, you could always phone your local Walmart and ask ahead of time.  Keep in mind that people having been reporting that some Walmart locations have been refusing to sell Public Mobile sim cards unless they are first activated in-store.

[Luddite]

@kevinandj If you do come to Canada now & then and wish to maintain an active account check this post: https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Paying-for-your-service/Extended-Absence/td-p/142735. $10 every 90- days will keep it open.

[kav2001c]

It's a Canadian/American thing

International SIMs seem to have no issue re-activating

I've often wondered why we can not re-use a SIM but been that way forever

As to locations they just started offering in retail locations officially so not too many places yet

You can often find SIMs at smaller cell shops as well

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@kevinandj wrote:

Thanks for the reply.  Just weird they do not have them available at more locations and also not usre why they have to deactivate sims.  But thanks anyway.

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[kevinandj]

Thanks for the reply.  Yeah I just found out about the WOW boutique moving too, timing is everything.  Just weird they do not have them available at more locations and also not usre why they have to deactivate sims.  But thanks anyway.

[srlawren]

@kevinandj yeah they are only good for use once.  Once the account closes as yours did previously, they cannot be reactivated.

I'm trying to think of somewhere downtown to tell you to go.  Until about a week or 2 ago there used to be a WoW Mobile Boutique downdown but it disappeared and I read is being moved into Park Royal mall in North Vancouver, which doesn't help you much.  I can't think of any Walmarts in the downtown area either, though I could be wrong.  Sorry I wish I could be more help.

[meocon]

You can go to any Walmart or WOW mobile to get a sim card right away and it's no expire. You can activate whenever you need. But if you activate before May 10, 2018 you'll get $10 account credit back to cover your sim card cost but you have to have referral (phone number from Public Mobile) if you don't have one, you can send me a message.

[kav2001c]

@kevinandj

You can purchase a new SIM card from many local vendors (eg Walmart)

You will pay $10 in store but when you submit the referal to another member you will get a $10 account credit back