No recognised number so no support.

[thesled]

Really struggling here. Every avenue blocked. 

I've been 'with' Vodafone for 24 hours. So far it's been an absolute disaster and wasted hours of my time.

It started off well enough. I signed up yesterday because my previous provider was giving me the runaround. I got a SIM on the post today, which was great, but when I put it in the phone it doesn't work. The phone sees a SIM but it says 'The SIM is not voice enabled'. So I can't make any calls or even use the keypad, so I can't find out the phone number, and without the phone number I can't access support. I can't find on any communication I've had any record of the phone number.

I need to contact support to try and bring my number port date forward because my old provider has now cut me off. I tried 'TOBI' but 'TOBI' just fell over and said 'Sorry I have a technical error'. I tried to set up my Vodafone account in the hope that might get me something but that fell over with a technical error as well.

I tried reaching out to Vodafone on Twitter and I got a quick reply asking for details but I sent them and I've heard nothing back for hours. 

It's all just gone down a great big black hole, meanwhile I'm totally out of contact. Any suggestions very gratefully received. 

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @thesled 

May I assume there's no mobile number in any correspondence such as perhaps emails sent to you when you started the contract.

Also typically when a sim is placed in a phone then the mobile number shows up in your contacts app or in the About Phone section or similar.

Are you able to try your sim card in another phone ?

May I ask was this a contract taken out directly with Vodafone UK or was it opened up through an independent such as an online store or Carphone Warehouse etc.

May I also ask are you going to be using a completely new number or are you porting your own number from your previous network ?

Please let the Social Media Team's  catch up with your tweet, so they can help.

A person can also call 0333 3040191 or use Live Chat.

I wish you all the best with this. 

[AnnS]

Hi @thesled 

If you submitted the PAC to Vodafone the SIM will be active as soon as the number is ported and you won't be able to see the number on the phone until the port has been completed, try typing *#100# on the phone to bring up the number.  As you gave the PAC at the time of purchase the number would have started to be immediately ported and your previous provider should not have disconnected your SIM until the port had been completed.

You may well find the number moves later today, try doing a manual roam from your connection setting and select Vodafone, usually a quick turn off and back on is all that is needed.

When the number is ported over and your service is online, see here :  Welcome to Vodafone 

[thesled]

Hi All

Many thanks for your helpful comments and suggestions.

The fundamental problem would indeed seem to be that nothing at all will happen until my number is ported. 

Unfortunately my previous provider Plusnet cut me off because of the dispute I have with them. 

Vodafone said it would take 2-3 days to get my SIM so to allow plenty of time, I set the port date to 1st June but then of course the SIM turned up yesterday.

TOBI seems to have recovered so I fought my way past TOBI and was able to get on the Live Chat. I asked if they could bring the port date forward but they said they couldn't. 

So it's an unfortunate combination of circumstances and I'll think I'll just have to wait until it sorts itself out. I normally wouldn't care but these days every bank, HMRC etc won't let you in anything until they send you a PIN on your mobile.

Oh yes and I did get reply from the social media types, they just sent me another daft menu system. 

[AnnS]

Hi @thesled 

It is correct that you won't get any service from Vodafone until the number is ported, even though you had a dispute with Plusnet, they should not have cut you off until the number ported and it may be worth going back to them and raising a complaint, just hope Plusnet have actioned the PAC and not just disconnected your number.

Fingers crossed for you the number move to Vodafone sooner than the 1st June, just keep checking, you will see Vodafone UK on the phone when you have all your services online.  

It would be worth mentioning that numbers do not port over a weekend or bank holiday on any network, and it will be the following day Tuesday before the number  ports. Ports usually complete late in the day.  Try the manual roam I suggested, this will update the SIM on the network.

[thesled]

Yes I did end up calling Plusnet again to add to my existing complaint, and of course guess what, they folded in the original dispute and refunded the late payment charge and reconnected me. 

So arguably my original reason for the switch has gone, but I'm not convinced Plusnet have sorted out the underlying problem which is to do with Direct Debits so it's just 'postponed'. Plus, I think Vodafone are giving me a slightly better deal so I'll stick with the switch and it can happen when it happens, there's no rush now.

Once again thanks for your help and ideas.