How to unlock an MTS SIM card if you haven’t used it for a long time
Disabling a subscriber's number can occur automatically without operator participation, subject to inactivity for two to six months. This time period is entirely determined by the MTS tariff involved.
Activity means making calls, sending messages, and using any paid services. That is, if the user has a free or unnecessary SIM card that has been lying idle for over six months, we can confidently say that it has been disabled and cannot be restored. After the end of the deadline for the restrictions to come into force, an unconditional blocking occurs, and therefore such a number can naturally be re-issued to a new user.
If it is of fundamental importance to preserve the specifically received number and SIM card, for example, due to the binding of important data, then if long-term inactivity is necessary, it is recommended to use. With its help, the subscriber retains all current provisions and can independently continue working at will at any time.
Theoretically, the user can try in several different ways to restore the activity of his own SIM card, despite the low probability of this:
- Use the functions of your personal account through the official resource https://login.mts.ru/amserver/UI/Login?service=newlk&goto;
- Enter the command *111*157# in the number book followed by a call;
- Call 1116 to contact the mobile assistant;
- Contact the technical support service at 0890 in Russia or 8 800 250 0890 for other operators, or +7 495 7660166 when abroad;
- Directly visit the operator’s branded communication salon.
Consequences of prolonged absence of unlocking
established a procedure regulating the functioning of SIM cards. If they were blocked at the personal request of the client and were not used for 183 days, then they are disabled. To renew, just dial 0890 or top up your balance.
If within 6 months there is no activity on the phone, no calls or messages, MTS terminates the contract unilaterally. The number ceases to belong to the client and goes on free sale, that is, transferred to other persons. You can restore a SIM card after a long period of inactivity only if it has not yet been transferred to other persons.
There are several ways to remove the restriction from a SIM card. They are absolutely free and can be used remotely. It is necessary to find out the reason for the termination of operation in order to choose the correct defrosting method. In some cases, simply replenishing your balance is enough. The blocking can be removed remotely on the Personal Account website. If a device with a SIM card is lost or stolen, the only option is to contact MTS employees.
Team
Voluntary blocking of MTS can be activated using the USSD command. It should be noted right away: you will not be able to unblock the number this way. Therefore, USSD requests are relevant only for connecting to the service.
What will need to be done? Dial *111*157# on your mobile phone. Next, click on the “Call” button on your phone and wait until the request is processed. After a few seconds, the voluntary blocking of MTS will be activated. The first 2 weeks the service is absolutely free. Starting from the 15th day you will have to pay 1 ruble for every 24 hours of using the opportunity.
Customers indicate that it is the USSD request that is in greatest demand. This technique allows you to independently and at any time use the number blocking function. Only the studied combination is suitable for temporarily disabling a SIM card. This means that it will be possible to restore the SIM card when it is needed.
Unlocking the SIM card
Often, the owner simply loses the phone due to inattention or forgetfulness. But soon the phone is suddenly found, and before that the vigilant subscriber had already managed to block it. Here a slightly different question arises: “How to unblock a previously blocked number?”
Currently, there are enough ways to unblock, and it is important to note that blocking does not in any way affect the account itself. It continues to exist, only the subscription fee is not charged during this period and other paid services are no longer charged.
How to unlock a SIM card on MTS?
To remove a previously installed lock, the following steps must be taken:
- Go to the required section in the Internet Assistant interface.
- Blocking using MTS service through a combination *111*157#;
- Using a service called “Mobile Assistant” by calling 1116.
- Making a call to a specialist.
- Visit the nearest company service.
Unlocking SIM
You can remove the lock in the following ways:
- Request assistance from the operator by making a call.
- Apply your Personal Account on the company website.
- Contact the service point closest to you.
There is an easier way: if you have already blocked your phone, call 0890 and notify the operator that you want to remove this blocking. Before doing this, be sure to prepare your passport information, which you will need to provide to the consultant over the phone for confirmation.
If you have difficulty calling operators, go to the nearest service office. There are many such points in the capital; in each region you can find many MTS offices.
If you are far from such services, live, for example, in a settlement, perform the unlocking operation on the Internet. Go to the website and go to the “Internet Assistant” link. Here you will not need your passport information. Use your username and password and use the system.
How to make sure a number is blocked?
You can check whether a subscriber is disconnected in several main ways:
- Each call from the user’s number is interrupted by a message that communication cannot be established and an offer to go to the help desk;
- During a call to the subscriber's number, a notification is played that the subscriber has been blocked.
In general, an operator can refuse to provide communication services for a variety of reasons that violate established rules, for example, for sending spam, malicious activities and other scenarios.
Withdrawal procedure
The funds remaining on the card can be conveniently withdrawn using an ATM of MTS Bank or its partners. The procedure is as follows:
- on the screen select “cash from ATM”;
- click on the item “ MTS money ”;
- send a message to number 3232 indicating the amount of money and withdrawal currency. We receive a response with a PIN code. It is only valid for 72 hours;
- enter the code received in the message into the ATM;
- enter the amount to be withdrawn;
- We take the bills and print out the receipt.
A commission fee is paid - 5.95% of the money withdrawn.
When using an ATM, you should know that:
- maximum transfer at a time - 5 thousand rubles, per day - 5 thousand rubles;
- the smallest withdrawal amount is 100 rubles;
- You can withdraw no more than 40 thousand rubles per month;
- There must be at least 10 rubles left on the card;
- money is issued from an ATM in multiples of 100 rubles.
Recovery
Don't worry, a SIM card with a phone number containing the previous set and order of numbers can be restored. To do this, at any convenient time, you need to visit the MTS Customer Service Center, taking with you:
- civil passport or other identification document;
- the necessary amount of money to pay for services.
Having written an application, the client receives a new SIM card, but with the usual number. At the same time, the following remain intact:
- information base;
- personal account balance;
- current tariff plan;
- a set of services and options connected earlier.
“SIM card delivery” service
If you want to restore your SIM card, but you don’t have it on hand, you can use it, which is available at the link https://www.mts.ru/mob_connect/help/action_sim/change_sim/.
In order to use this service, you need to fill out a special form.
Or you can call the contact center numbers, which are also always at the subscriber’s disposal.
A SIM card can only be provided to the person who is a subscriber under the contract.
The cost of SIM card delivery depends on what tariff plan you are on and how urgently you want to receive a SIM card. You can receive a SIM card using a courier or delivery by Russian Post.
How to remove a financial block from an MTS SIM card
If the number was frozen due to insufficient funds on the balance, then you will be able to call the toll-free number 0890, “Mobile Assistant”, Personal Account and call emergency services. In addition, you can use USSD commands, for example, to check your balance.
In order to unlock a SIM card of the mobile operator MTS, which has a financial lock installed, it is enough to top up the account with the missing amount in any convenient way (for example, through payment terminals or using a bank card).
Important! You can understand that the SIM card has been successfully unlocked by making an outgoing call. If the connection is established, then the blocking action has been terminated.
Automatic blocking by operator
According to statistics, the number of cellular users in the country significantly exceeds the population. This is due to the fact that many people use not one, but several SIM cards.
Subscribers' SIM cards are not always used regularly. It happens that they lie on the shelf and are used from time to time. Typically, subscribers connect such numbers to tariffs without a mandatory payment, so as not to worry that the number will go into the red. However, if there are no paid actions on the number, the operator can disable the SIM card.
How long after the MTS SIM card is turned off depends on the tariff package used on the number. Please note that both a number with a package tariff plan and a tariff without mandatory payment can be disconnected.
So, if a number uses a package tariff from the current line, then the fee for it will be charged until there are enough funds on the balance to make a payment. Payments are charged regardless of whether the subscriber uses the number or not, and it does not matter whether a SIM card is installed in the phone or not.
Once the balance becomes insufficient for payment, the period of non-use of paid services begins to count, amounting to up to six months. For the first sixty days, incoming communication services remain available through the number.
But if there is a positive balance on the balance, then after one hundred and fifty days of non-use by paid services, the number will be transferred to the “Basic” tariff, in which the fee is ninety rubles per month in the Perm Territory. From now on, returning to your previous tariff is only available if it is open for transfers.
Beeline
Similar to Megafon, Beeline, when the SIM card is inactive, debits five rubles per day from its personal account. This happens after 90 days of inactivity by the subscriber. True, Beeline blocks a SIM card not as soon as it runs out of money, but after 180 days of inactivity.
The Yota operator has the most severe attitude towards inactive SIM cards. The operator begins to charge 150 rubles per day after the subscriber has been inactive for 90 days. As soon as the balance runs out, the contract is terminated and the subscriber loses his number.
