Most subscribers use a phone number that was purchased quite a long time ago. After all, this is not just a set of numbers for a call, but a kind of identification among your family and friends. And if a person has a fairly large circle of acquaintances for communication, both at home and especially at work, then the loss of a mobile number is a very big loss and problem. And such a situation can happen even to the most careful and attentive user.
But there is still no need to panic ahead of time. There is no problem that cannot be solved. Because you can restore a SIM card in several ways and the lost number will be with you again.
How to restore a Vodafone SIM card (number)
After the SIM card of the mobile operator Vodafone is activated, the countdown of the validity period of this telephone number begins. If the account is not replenished subsequently or the subscriber does not start using mobile communications, the SIM card will be blocked. Find out how to restore your Vodafone number in such a situation and unblock your SIM card, as well as more information about the exact reasons why Vodafone blocks the card by reading this material.
Why could the SIM card be blocked?
So, for what reason can a SIM card be blocked? This:
- Lack of balance replenishment for a long time.
- Perhaps you have a lot of debt, and you have long gone into the red.
- You yourself once blocked your SIM card.
- You may have entered your PIN incorrectly 3 times, after which the card was blocked.
Read about operators: How to restore a Beeline SIM card via the Internet by phone or in the office? How much does it cost and recovery time?
The PUK code consists of 8 digits and is only needed if the PIN was entered incorrectly three times and the SIM card was automatically blocked. Without this password, it is impossible to “reanimate” it. You cannot change the PUK.
You have 10 attempts to enter this code. If you have lost the documents issued during connection and do not remember the password, it is not recommended to enter it at random. After 10 attempts have been exhausted, it will no longer be possible to unlock this SIM card: you can only restore the number by receiving a new SIM. But before disconnecting, you can find out your PUK code and return the card to functionality without replacing the media.
Possible reasons for blocking
Every person who has recently become a subscriber of the Vodafone Ukraine operator and has purchased a starter package can read on its packaging information about the period allocated for activating a new phone.
At the same time, not everyone knows that after this the SIM card will be valid for two months, and in order to increase this period by a year, you need to transfer at least five hryvnia to your phone balance. How can I find out if my Vodafone SIM card has expired or is blocked? First of all, after this, the company’s client can no longer make calls or send SMS messages, but the ability to contact the subscribers who called him remains available.
Important! In addition, you can still send USSD commands from a blocked SIM card. If within six months from the date of activation of the phone no one calls or sends SMS to it, a complete blocking will occur and the client will have to restore the Vodafone SIM card.
Other reasons that may require restoring a blocked Vodafone SIM card include:
- loss or theft of a SIM card;
- the number is out of order and is no longer registered in the Vodafone network;
- the card chip has been damaged;
- The phone number was blocked because the subscriber entered the PUK code incorrectly several times. If you enter the PIN code incorrectly three times, the device will ask the user for a PUK code, which can be found on the fastener from which the SIM card was removed. When PUK is blocked, it will be impossible to use the number and will need to be restored;
- another event that led to the blocking of the Vodafone SIM card.
How to restore (unlock) a SIM card from Vodafone
The process of how to restore a Vodafone Ukraine SIM card is quite simple.
First of all, it must be blocked. This is done to limit the ability of third parties to use the phone number. What to do if your Vodafone SIM card is blocked, and what recovery methods you can use:
- visiting any Vodafone or MTS sales point;
- call to the company's call center;
- filling out a special form on the operator’s official portal.
In order for the sent request to be processed, the user must identify himself. The essence of this procedure is that the Vodafone subscriber gives answers to various questions. They can be either basic or additional.
The first category includes the following questions:
- two telephone numbers with which communication is most often established by making calls and sending SMS messages;
- access point being used.
The second category includes the following questions:
- the amount that was transferred to the phone account last time;
- current SIM card balance;
- the day when the last action was performed on the number (calling, sending a message or going online).
Another option that allows you to restore numbers is to inform the employee of the point of sale or call center of the current PUK code, if available.
- How to recover a blocked or lost Beeline SIM card
Next, in order to restore the card and continue using the phone, the subscriber needs to visit any Vodafone service point and pick up a new SIM card: it will be restored by default upon receipt.
You must come to the salon with your passport.
If he needs to get a micro- or nano-card, he should immediately contact the Vodafone representative office without sending any preliminary requests.
You can restore and unlock your Vodafone card completely free of charge.
So, with an active request, you can restore and get a new Vodafone SIM card at any existing customer service point. The main thing is that the recipient must be the person who indicated their own data in the request. The restored number is collected within a month after submitting the application.
Getting a new SIM card
If you have exhausted 10 attempts to enter the PUK code or simply do not want to restore this SIM card, you can get a new one when you contact the MTS office. You must have your passport with you. The phone number does not change. This service is free and only takes less than 5 minutes.
ATTENTION. When you replace the SIM, all information stored on the locked media is erased. Also, within 24 hours after the new card is issued, some services will be unavailable: sending and receiving SMS messages, the “Easy payment” option.
In what cases is the number suspended and the card blocked?
Each new subscriber, when purchasing a starter package, can read on the box by what date the number must be activated. However, not everyone knows that after activation the number will be valid for only 2 months. And to extend this time for a year, you need to top up your balance by at least 5 UAH.
How to understand that the number has expired and the SIM card has become blocked? First of all, the functions of outgoing calls and SMS become unavailable to the subscriber. However, it remains possible to receive incoming messages and talk with other subscribers.
In addition, the option to use USSD requests remains. However, if within 180 days from the moment of activation no one calls or sends messages to this number, the SIM card will be permanently blocked.
Attention! Find out how to turn off the Internet on Vodafone - step by step, with photos.
How to find out the validity period of a number and unlock a SIM card
There are several ways to check the expiration date of your Vodafone SIM card in Ukraine. The simplest and fastest is the USSD account verification command *101#.
In response to this request, you will receive a message that will indicate not only the remaining balance, but also the validity period of the number. It is necessary to top up your account up to this number so that the card is not blocked.
Another way you can go to find out the validity period of the number is to call 111 at the Customer Service Center help desk.
To get information on your number and tariff, select item 1 in the voice menu. In this section you can check your account and find out the validity period of the number. To do this, select subparagraph 4.
Useful: How to borrow money from Vodafone - step-by-step instructions.
If the number is suspended due to late payment, in order to unblock the SIM card, you must replenish the balance within 180 days from the date of deactivation in any convenient way, except for at least 5 UAH.
When a SIM card is not registered on the network for some other reason, a conversation with the operator will help clarify the situation. However, in this case, you will not be able to reach the Customer Service Center. Instead of number 111, you need to call 112 - it is intended for emergencies.
You can also use a landline phone or call from another operator. The toll-free number 0(800)400-111 is provided for this.
How to activate an MTS SIM card on your phone
As a rule, a card is purchased for use on a phone. For smart devices and regular cell phones, the methods for activating an MTS SIM card are usually the same. You can use any of the options described below; they are simple and understandable to everyone, be it a schoolchild or a pensioner. You can set up your network in a matter of minutes:
- At the company office. It was possible to connect immediately upon purchase, but sometimes a person is in a hurry and forgets to make the card active. You can return at any time and ask a staff member for this service. It is worth knowing that to carry out this operation, the employee has the right to request your passport to confirm your identity and ownership of this SIM card. Activation at the company's office is completely free, you can also ask any questions about the package that interest you.
- USSD command. The algorithm is simple:
- Insert the card into the phone, enter the PIN code.
- Dial the short number *111#, press the call button.
- In a few minutes you can start making calls and sending SMS.
- If the USSD request for some reason did not work, use the following method.
- Call the service center. In most cases, there are no difficulties with the previous method, but sometimes a disconnect occurs. To resolve the problem, you should contact the company's customer service center. Use one of the numbers: 0890 – from MTS numbers, 88002500890 – from other operators, landline phones. Wait for a connection with a technical support specialist, describe to him the essence of your problem. He will help you resolve this issue, but before that he will ask you to provide your passport information to confirm ownership of this SIM card. If you wish, you can find out from him all the nuances that interest you regarding the tariff plan, services and additional options.
The services of the MTS operator are used not only by phone holders, but also by owners of tablets and USD modems. Accordingly, the operator has developed methods for activating a SIM card using any of the above devices. Of course, you can use methods that are relevant for your phone by simply inserting a SIM card into it, but this is not always convenient.
- Attention
- If you don’t have time to go to the MTS office, try activating the SIM card yourself by dialing *111# on your phone. If the SIM card is still not active, call the operator from mobile 0890 or from landline 8 800 250 0890.
Basically, MTS SIM cards are purchased for mobile phones and tablets. And it doesn’t matter whether you just wanted to change your number or switch to a new tariff. The new SIM card requires activation in any case. And you can activate an MTS SIM card in many different ways, and all of them do not require special knowledge, which is possessed by MTS office managers, and it does not matter whether we are talking about a smartphone or a tablet.
Thus, when faced with an unactivated SIM card, there is no point in running straight to the salon and asking a mobile communications guru to put it into working condition. Let's leave this method for last if the others do not help solve this problem on our own.
How to restore Vodafone number and SIM card
Many subscribers use the same phone number for many years. It becomes not just a combination of numbers, but a real identification of a person among family, friends, colleagues and partners. And the larger the circle of acquaintances, the more serious the problem of loss. Even the most careful user can encounter such an unpleasant situation.
But Vodafone subscribers don’t have to worry, because there are several ways to restore a SIM card. We'll tell you how to restore your Vodafone phone number if it's lost.
Content
How to unlock a Vodafone SIM card using an operator
There can be a lot of reasons for blocking a SIM card, voluntary or forced, among which the most common are:
- loss of the phone along with all equipment;
- physical wear and tear of the SIM, which is no longer registered on the network;
- unintentional damage to the card;
- ID blocking due to incorrect PUK code entry;
- prolonged non-use of the phone and failure to replenish the balance;
- debt on an account that has not been used for more than three months.
Regardless of the reasons, the first thing you need to do if you want to keep your usual Vodafone number after receiving a duplicate SIM card is to contact the operator.
- How to unlock a SIM card from MTS, Beeline, Megafon, Tele2 or another operator
There are two free methods available:
- Call the number: 111 from a mobile phone, being a subscriber of Vodafone (MTS) Ukraine;
- 0800400111 from any phone in Ukraine.
To implement the first method, you will need a phone, and for the second, Internet access. The operator will accept the application and provide the application number, which you will need to provide in the store when receiving a duplicate.
Within a month from the moment of calling the operator, you must contact the MTS communication salon:
- Purchase the starter package “SIM Card Restoration and Replacement”: paying 25 hryvnia;
- free of charge if the SIM card is replaced as part of warranty service.
How long does it take for a SIM card to be blocked?
There are 2 factors influencing the blocking time, namely:
- The SIM card has not been used for a long time.
- There is no balance on the account.
We will analyze each factor in more detail.
If not used
Automatic blocking of a SIM card is possible when the subscriber has not used MTS communications for a certain period, which can range from 60 to 183 days ( that is, from two months to six months ), depending on the tariff to which the client is connected. That is, you did not make calls, did not send SMS, and did not use any other paid services or options. If you have an operator card lying around somewhere and have not used it for more than six months, you can be sure that it is no longer valid and it is not possible to restore it. After the deadline for the restriction expires, the card is permanently blocked and due to the limited number base, the number can be transferred to other persons.
If it is fundamentally important for you to save this particular number and SIM card, if only because important data has been entered on it, then it is worth using “Voluntary blocking” in case of expected long-term non-use. This way you will retain your SIM card, and at the same time you can activate it at any time convenient for you.
You can do this:
- Via the Internet in your Personal Account on the website https://login.mts.ru/amserver.
- Using the command *111*157# call.
- Through the “Mobile Assistant” - 1116 call.
- Through the Contact Center 0890 (Across Russia), 8 800 250 0890 ( from landline phones and third-party operators ), +7 495 7660166 (in roaming).
- In the MTS communication salon.
If there are no funds in the account
Here the situations may be as follows:
- The account balance is negative;
- Exceeded the debt limit when using;
- The invoice for services already provided has not been paid.
You can unblock a number by depositing funds into your account. It is important to remember that the duration of such a “financial block” is limited:
- Those who connected to MTS in September 2015 and later can count on 6 months of temporary communication restrictions;
- Those who became a client of the operator before September 2015 - from 2 to 6 months , here the terms are affected by the connected tariff.
After the expiration of the specified period, the client faces a final blocking, which can no longer be canceled, and the SIM card will not be restored. Then you will have to purchase a new SIM card.
What is needed to restore the card
A SIM card, regardless of the chosen method, can only be restored by the subscriber who has entered into a service agreement with MTS or by another person with a notarized power of attorney. You will need an identity document on the basis of which the SIM card was issued, as the following information will be required:
- personal: account balance;
- active tariff plan;
- 2 most frequently dialed numbers.
SIM card delivery service
There is another way when the subscriber applies through Courier delivery. The reason for such a request may be:
- region other than home;
- geographically remote area;
- international roaming.
The delivery cost for such a service can range from 50 to 3000 hryvnia, depending on the sender’s address. Therefore, when ordering a service, you should immediately clarify its cost.
Methods to recover a phone number
The company offers customers who have lost their subscriber identification module, but want to stay with their previous Vodafone number, several ways to restore it.
If the user has minimal knowledge, he can buy the “SIM Card Restoration and Replacement” kit and restore the number himself, with the help of the operator. Having received a gift - 4 Gigabytes of Internet using 3g/4g technology.
Be prepared to tell the operator:
- How to unlock a SIM card and restore Tele2 Kazakhstan number
- Recoverable combination of numbers.
- PUK code.
- Serial number of the card.
- A codeword.
- The names of two subscribers from the “favorite” category.
Regardless of the chosen method, the following will be saved:
- cash balance;
- connected tariff;
- package of services and options.
Only the contact list will not be restored.
Methods for restoring a SIM card
There are two ways to unlock an MTS SIM card if you lose the PUK code. Both involve contacting an operator: this can be done in person in the office or by phone.
At the MTS office
ATTENTION. To contact a company branch, you must have your passport with you. If the number was not registered in your name, you must present a properly executed and notarized power of attorney from the owner. Otherwise, staff will not be able to fulfill your request.
What to do:
- Find the MTS office closest to you. To do this, you can use information from the official website (link for easy search, do not forget to indicate your region) and any application with maps.
- Contact a company employee, explaining the essence of the problem.
- Present your passport and wait for a new PUK code to be issued.
- Unlock the SIM by entering the received 8-digit password.
- Save the code.
After this, all capabilities of the SIM card are restored. Numbers, SMS messages and other information saved on it remain unchanged.
Via the contact center
How to unlock an MTS SIM card if you don’t know the PUK and there’s no way to go to the mobile operator’s office? Just call the Contact Center. If you have another MTS number, use the short option - 0890 (free for all subscribers of this telecom operator in the Russian Federation). For calls from other mobile and landline phones - 8 (800) 250-08-90. For calls from other countries. Please note that in the latter case, the conversation will be free only for MTS subscribers and strictly when dialing the code +7.
Further:
- following the prompts of the voice assistant, select the desired menu item and press the corresponding key in tone mode;
- wait for the operator’s response and state the essence of the request;
- follow the operator's prompts to obtain a new PUK code;
- unlock your SIM card;
- save the code.
You will need to provide your passport details and code word, if it was indicated in the application for connection. If you have changed your identity document in the time since you purchased the SIM card, provide the operator with the old data. They can be found in the information on page 19 of the passport.
Subscriber identification
Of course, if the replacement occurs offline, that is, when the client directly visits the Vodafone sales center, then everything happens simply:
- the subscriber presents a passport;
- reports the application number;
- receives a duplicate.
But when resolving the issue remotely, user identification is required, because he is not making the call from his own number. To avoid misunderstandings, the operator is obliged to confirm that the true owner of the SIM card has contacted.
Therefore, you need to prepare to answer several questions, calling:
- secret word set during registration;
- an eight-digit digital PUK code, which can be found on a plastic holder for a lost SIM card;
- unique serial number of the old SIM card (ICCID), it can contain up to 20 characters.
If the client cannot provide such information due to the fact that the plastic holder is lost and the code word is forgotten, then the operator proceeds to other types of questions:
- Name the two phone numbers to which you received the most calls in the last 30 days.
- Report the APN, that is, the name of the access point.
- How much was in your personal account at the time the card was blocked?
- When was the account topped up and for what amount?
Restoring a card in an MTS salon
Any MTS salon in your home region will help you restore your favorite combination:
- will provide a paid starter package;
- will restore it free of charge under warranty if the free service period has not expired.
Before visiting the store:
- call the operator at 111 or 08800400111;
- report loss;
- receive a registration number.
Additional information on the service
The operator should not be nervous when answering, because the operator’s task is to protect the subscriber. You should prepare in advance and write down the necessary information.
Having received a new SIM card with the old number, you can be sure of keeping:
- money on the balance sheet;
- current tariff plan;
- package of services and options.
But not all subscriber data can be restored. In particular, contacts saved on the SIM card cannot be restored.
