Can't reach UM, can't reach my UM UK number, no reply to e-mail
 

Is it just me? I e-mailed UM a week ago about a balance transfer and haven't received a reply. I just tried calling my UM+ (UK number) and can't reach it with any carrier - when I call I hear a ringing, but the phone itself doesnt' ring.

I've also tried calling UM on their UK number and can't get through at all.

Anyone else having this problem? Is your SIM working?

Thanks!

Hi,

My UM+ SIM is working in Germany without problems. The SIM is connected to the Vodafone DE network.

I've also sent an email to UM for about one week and I don't have an answer.

Regards,

Detlef

Thanks! Maybe it is a network problem with Rogers right now - I'll try again later.

I appreciate your response :-)

Kaydee-

I also have several support tickets open with UM as well- including a balance transfer request like you. I also haven't heard anything in over a week. Something strange going on at UM for sure- they recently stopped offering any +423 sims.

Kupe

I cant make calls with my United Mobile Sim at the moment, but incoming is OK and texting OK. Managed to get hold of support who said they have a problem that they are working on.

I haven't been able to make calls for two weeks and still no reply to any of my tickets :-(

None of my regular long distance carriers will terminate calls to +423 anymore due to "security problems" so I guess I'll be moving on from UM soon...

I used them just fine in the Netherlands.

I have been having problems reaching the UM+ SIM for incoming calls. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. SMS seems to be working.

Please send me an IM if you need a way to call +423-6 numbers, I have a route that is fairly reliable at US$0.19/min.

That seems pretty lame. Liechtenstein is a legitimate country. I've visited Vaduz personally. It ain't big, but it's real and it's a pretty civilized place.

In the U.S., many LD carriers stopped handling calls to +423 mobiles starting 2 or more years ago. i think the problem was complaints fom customers about the HIGH prices/charges that showed up on their bills.

...mike

The issue with calls to +4236 is probably, as snidely points out, the high termination charges that are imposed by the local carriers in Liechtenstein.
So many ld carriers block calls to this destination.

I have an issue with that. Legitimate long distance carriers shouldn't restrict calls based on cost. They should let their customers know, but the calls should still go through.

What if you needed to call a Liechtenstein mobile phone in an emergency?

Does your provider block calls to satellite phone providers, or to other countries with high termination rates?

United Mobile support told me that the problem is because their number range is on the same number range as the Mobilkom Liechtenstein sex lines, and other premium lines!

Only this number range is affected. But then I guess that would mean you could call to other "Normal" numbers within Liechtenstein. It would be interesting for someone in the USA who cant call to a United Mobile number try and call to a normal Liechtenstein number. Hmm, I cant call to a United Mobile phone from my British Telecom line. Perhaps I will give it a go.

I cant call out of my United Mobile +423 phone either, its been 3-4 days since I could call out, Incoming is OK, but sms is messed up. Looks like their callback trigger system is stuffed. I cant get hold of support either. I wonder if they are going under? Do others with the UM +44 Sim have the same problem?

My +44 sim works well. I receive the callback, the number is dialed fine and I can also call my Um+ number ok.
My +4236 number can be dialed using more expensive carriers (0,5 euro/min), but I can not make outgoing calls

Hello,

UM has some problems with the UM423 SIM-Cards:

On some networks you cannot set up outgoing phonecalls at this time, you will receice the response "Network busy", if you try it.

As you know, all outgoing calls from the +423 SIM are setup by a Text-Message (SMS). This text-system doesn't work at this time. UM told me, there is problem is with a 3rd party supplier.

Incoming text-messages (SMS) on +423 should work. DATA Services on the contracted networks should work, too.
Inoming calls should work, if the calling carrier connects to +423-663.

UM distributes new UM+ SIM-Cards to their customers free of charge

Therefore UM decided to move their customer base to the +44-7937 (UK-Jersey) System

At the moment UM is sending new UM+ (+44-79379...) SIM-Cards free of charge including 10 EUROs account, to all their customers, if they know their postal adresses. If they don't know your adress, you can ask the Customer Care to send a new SIM-Card.
UM offers to transfer your UM423-account to your new UM44 SIM-card, which can be administrated at United Mobile - Low rates for calls and internet abroad after registration.

On the back side of the information-letter, where the UM CEO explains the situation, you'll find the latest UM+ rate plan. UM has increased the number of Roaming countries for the UM+ SIM card quite a lot.

For the UM+ SIM Card you should use a "simple" mobile phone. Some Serie 60 Nokias don't work properly with the SIM-Toolkit Application on the SIM-Card, which controls the Calling procedure.

Background:

+423-663 Range from Liechtenstein is not only used by United-Mobile, but also by "Premium"-Services "lonesome ladies", strange shopping-hotlines etc.
Some carriers do not connect +423-663 any more, other carriers mix the numbers and connect to other Premium Services, which you may don't want to call at all.

So United-Mobile decided to "switch" to the +44 UK-Jersey SIM. The 423-SIM-Cards will maintaind for DATA-Transfer for a while, but UM is negotiating very hard, to get attractive rates for the DATA usage with the UM+ SIM-card. Data Services with the UM+ SIM are planned for late 2009.

Any news on their dual +1/+44 card promised imminently some imminent time ago?

Hi Matha,

no information yet. Me Test-SIM-Card will travel to the US next week, but the testing person has a Nokia E51 which makes some troubles with the SIM-Toolkit application. I hope it will work at the US either. (My Nokia N80 (Quadband) reboots, If I try to setup a call :-( So I would suggest to use a maximum silly phone (which understands SIM-Toolkit Applications)

If it works, I'll report it here.

OMG unbelievable! How did you hear about this? I'm a longtime UM +423 customer. I have been so disgusted with my +423 sim reliability that 2 weeks ago I purchased from UM a new +447937 sim for Euro 34.90 (inc shipping), or USD 48.62.

Now I find out they are giving that exact Sim away free!?!?! On top of that, they have not responded to any of my support tickets since I got the new sim.

Even more strange is that they DO have my shipping address AND email address, but I've heard nothing from them.

ARRRRGGGH!

Kupe

I just tried to check the balance on my +423 card a few times, and as mentioned above, I got the "Network Busy" message. I have very little credit on the card anyway. Just kept it for outgoing calls in a few places in the Caribbean where the UM+ card does not have coverage or has worse rates. As we all know, incoming calls to the +423 number is almost non-existent or outrageously expensive by all the carriers.

Ugggh...I have lots of credit on my +423. ;(

And worse, I can't get UM to respond to my requests to transfer the balance to my +44 UM sim.

What a meltdown.

Kupe

Hmm me too, I have almost 200 Euros of credit on my UM +423. Havent been able to get hold of them so it looks like they are going to be shisters and try scam me on it. Wont be going for their +44 thats for sure. Has anyone been able to get money out of them? Surely they are legally liable to give +423 clients their money back?

Not directly but there were some warning signs a few month's ago.

According to a post here the +423 platform of UM was for sale. You normally don't sell if you are making goog money.

Next warming was UM charging a fixed amount to receive incoming calls. It looks like they need this to generate extra income as some other carriers are not doing this.

I switched form UM+ to another roaming card a few month's ago I recommend more people to do that. I use Travel Sim -100% Free Roaming - No Connetion Charge - No Daily Fee - GSM Travel Sim Card no funny monthly charges, minimums or ratio's just a yearly fee of I believe 10 pounds or euro to keep the card active.

Also I recommend buy your own did number and setup your own call forward to your roaming card. This forwarding will cost you maximum 10 eurocents using the right voip carrier. If one roaming card goed out of business just by another one and forward to that number. You just give friends and customers your did number.

+423 no longer on the rates page
 

This may be old news. If so, moderators please accept my apology and delete.

I noticed that the rate calculation no longer includes the +423 rate. Only rates for +44793. Definitely another indication that they will not longer be supporting the +423 number for voice calls.

Hello,

I've got the change letter by registered mail (stamp 25 March 2009) the letter was in german language. Two or three other UM423 customers received this letter, too and reported this in various user-forums (e.g. Telefon-Treff - die Mobilfunk-Community in german language --> Prepaid --> "Der United-Mobile Thread")

I talked to UM this Morning:
The UM423 System is still "broken", what means, nobody can make outgoing calls or send outgoing Text-SMS at the moment. What works are incoming calls and DATA (tested by myself)

I cannot be said, when the UM423 will be complete ok, but they are working for a solution.

The UM-Customer Care suffers under a big lot of requests for transferring money from the UM423 to the UM+ account, so they ask for a little patience.

I'll come back, if there are additional news from UM.

I can confirm that. I just returned from Paris where I could make no calls on my +423 sim. Continuous "Network Busy" messages.

I can't get them to reply to any tickets on any subject.

Kupe

Hello,

just received the following information from Sven Donhuysen, CEO of United-Mobile, please read carefully, some topics are brand new:

<i>Dear Partner

As world-leader in low-cost roaming services, United Mobile has
Started with new initiatives into 2009 focusing on improving our service to you.

As a part of that program we have invested millions in the past two years into
the development of our new service that allows us to increase our
quality-of-service levels significantly. Most of our customer base is Already using the new service.

To benefit from the new service, you need to switch to distributing
the new United-Mobile SIM card. Simultaneously, your existing clients will
Also get a new number with a +44 prefix (UK) which is cheaper to call, more
Reliable and provides greater worldwide coverage with more roaming partners.

Customer complaints in the last few weeks have dramatically
increased regarding the accessibility of the +423 SIM card,
especially from landline carriers. We have undertaken massive efforts to solve
the problem but were unable to do so. <b>Due to this problem and the involved legal
dispute our partner Mobilkom has notified us that the +423 platform will be switched off today.</b>

We deeply regret this measure, but are offering you to supply all of
your active customers with free +44 SIMs and a free call-value top up of
10€.

Additionally existing call value can be migrated from +423 to +44 SIMs.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us
at customer.service@united-mobile. Com

Yours sincerely,
Sven Donhuysen
CEO</i>

In short words: <b>UM 423 Plattform will be switched offline in these days.</b>
Existing customers get a new Phone-Number on the UM 44 Plattform, if they haven't one.
UM423 Accounts can be transferred to the new UM 44 (UM+) Account.

Customer Care is a little bit overloaded at this days so be patient.

Thanks for the update. Do you know, are they actually issuing new +44 Sims to existing +423 customers, or are they changing the phone numbers on existing +423 sims to +44 numbers?

Thanks!

Kupe

Grrrr- UM really MUST start replying to open support tickets! The balance on my +44 sim is now down to 33 euro cents, but with a large balance remaining on my +423 sim. I've asked them repeatedly to transfer that balance, with no reply.

Now tomorrow I leave for Europe again, without enough balance on my +44 card to use and the +423 sim is unusable.

Why not simply top-up the +44 sim you ask? Simple- I would have to be crazy to send them more money when by all appearances the company is in disarray and non-functioning.

Uggghhh.

Kupe

Since I couldn't establish data sessions with my UM +423 SIM neither in Switzerland nor in Bulgaria today, I fear Henning's prohpecy is coming true.

Hello,

They are issuing complete NEW SIM-Cards.
The old Company was Mobilkom of Liechtenstein (a subsidiary of Austrian Telekom "Mobilkom A1")
The "new" Company is "Jersey Telecom" the "official" Telecom for Jersey Islands (which belong to the United-Kingdom, but not to the EU)

By the way its no prophecy, its sad fact. First customers report, that even Data transmissions are impossible with UM423 now.

Hello again,

For those who understand german language: United Mobile: Liechtenstein-Plattform +423 wird abgeschaltet - teltarif.de News

The links leads to the news portal: teltarif.de - Kommunikation ganz einfach

See also United Mobile: Liechtenstein-Plattform +423 wird abgeschaltet
teltarif.ch - Kommunikation ganz einfach is the Swiss-Version of Teltarif.de

Years from now, when they look back on this era, will there still be several unanswered questions most notably being this....for a while UM was by far the most stable of the international roaming companies at least for me IMHO.....that was a time when my LD carrier charged 10¢/minute for calls to +423 numbers with a termination fee of 1¢/minute for +423 mobiles...while CBW charged 16¢/minute to call back to the USA from free reception zones....then....

1. Who was responsible for the dramatic (and I mean dramtic) increase in termination fees to +423???? Was it other telcoms to protect their revenues? Hm...

2. What effect did the eu tariffs have on this whole thing (I think substantial as for Europeans, at least, there were now alternatives for roaming namely using their own carriers and paying relatively inexpensive eu rates) while non Europeans had to bear the brunt of the increases.

3. What happened to O9 (and by extension Yackie)? Here one day, goine the next.

Of course, we could mention riiing (well they were united mobile), hop, ryan air

Now the troubles at UM....(and by extension how are the Estonian carriers doing?)

Some day the truths will all come out, now won't they.

Ugggh- that hurts because I bought a +44 UM sim two weeks ago due to the constant "Network Busy" issues on my UM +423 sim.

Kupe

Hello,

No Problem. You can ask the customer support to shift the money to your just fresh bought UM44 SIM-Card.

LOL! If only it were that easy! I have asked them to do this every other day for more than two weeks now! No response and no transfer.

Kupe

@Kupe - you've got a private Message in this Forum. Have a look on it.

@all:

I've just contacted UM. The Data via GPRS function with UM44 (UM+) SIM-Cards is not yet available but under construction. This needs a complete update of the User database systems.

If your Money is transferred from the UM423 to the UM44SIM, the UM423 Number says "the person you are calling is not available", Voice Mail is switched off, then.

I am having the same trouble with my UM card - network busy - same message on my phone for the last three days and calling at various times from the UK.....................

After logging into your account you get this

"Page content not available

For the time being, the United Mobile Shop and MyAccount remain temporarily unavailable."

Yikes- same here. Not good. ;(

Kupe

They are probably making some updates. May be for accounts to reflect whatever changes they are implementing with the +423/+44 transfer.

At least they have a presentable Not available (404) message. Some sites will just present you with the generic IE message which is not professional at all.