Unable to purchase Basics SIM – checkout crashes.

[Foamalert]

Hi, I’m having a problem purchasing a Vodafone Basics SIM from this page:

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/bundles-and-sims/sim-only-deals/basics/c/

I select the one that I want (4GB for £6) and add it to the basket.

I keep the options as their defaults because I don’t want an eSIM and I’m not joining from another network.

But then when I proceed to the checkout the webpage appears to load the secure checkout correctly but then after 5 seconds an error message pops up.

The message says to ring 08080 408 408, but those particular SIM contracts are only available from the website and the call centre people can’t help, and neither can those on live chat.

I’m not even a customer of Vodafone yet but I’m already having a bad experience with them. It’s been 3 weeks since I first tried to do this and the problem still exists. I’ve tried different browsers, different computers, smartphones etc. I’ve also tried selecting other Basic plans on that same page as a trial but they also fail at checkout.

Could someone else try adding one of those talkplans to their basket and see if the secure checkout stays active for more than 5 seconds?

Thanks.

[Foamalert]

Hi, the error is still occurring on all of my equipment.

Unfortunately, as I stated in my second post in this thread, I don't have Facebook or Twitter accounts so I'm unable to contact the Vodafone social media team, and also the Live Chat people have no idea how to help with this problem.

I don't have the facility to make a recording of the error occurring but there would be nothing more to see than what is shown in the two screenshots in my second post - ie the secure checkout loads, but then after 5 seconds the screen changes to having that error message.

Most of the methods that I've tried have been using Virgin Media WiFi / broadband.

I have, however, managed to see the website work properly in real life (the guy who sits at the desk next to me at work using a Samsung smartphone on EE 4G), but I don't want to ask to use his phone to order the SIM,  because I'll have to enter a whole load of personal info for the credit check.

I need to get it to work on my own phone/computer or that of a family member, but that's proving impossible. And the fact that it's failing via so many ways suggests to me that there must be high proportion of people unable to order these SIMs.

[BandOfBrothers]

Could the option of ringing Vodafone on 0333 3040191 be an option @Foamalert or if you have a Vodafone Highstreet Store local to you pop in there to join Vodafone.

[Foamalert]

Unfortunately the Basics SIMs are only available online.

I've been into my local Vodafone shop and explained the situation to them but they were of no help (neither were the telephone customer services). They just repeat that I can't order one of those SIMs through them and that I need to do it via the website!

[Foamalert]

Dear God! I've finally managed to order one of those basic SIMs using my iphone.

The workaround was to order a Vodafone PAYG sim, register it and load it with £5 of credit. Then turn off the iPhone's WiFi connection and access the Vodafone website using 4G. The Secure Checkout then worked without throwing up an error message, but what a right pain in the you-know-where all that was.

The website still throws up the error message when I access it on any of my other equipment, and I can imagine most other people who encounter this ongoing problem will just clear off somewhere else with their money.

I appreciate all of the suggestions/help.

[WelshPaul]

So you basically just used a different internet connection to place the order.

For what it's worth, I use Virgin Media here and that connection is what I used when testing above.

[Foamalert]

No, I basically had to find one that actually worked - after having the process fail on numerous devices in three different buildings and a smartphone connected via O2.