United Mobile+ (new service with +44 Jersey number)

[PhotoJim]

Voicestick isn't free anymore if you want an inbound number. It costs a couple of dollars a month plus 1 and change cents US per minute.

[DRNewcomb]

Does anyone know if a transfer of some of the balance from one UM card to the other counts as activity for computing card expiration? If so, I know when the next time is that I need to generate some more "activity". If not, I probably need to send an SMS or something to keep them alve.

I'm kind of at the point that I have too many SIMs. I've had some cards die on me because I couldn't keep track of the occasional activity requirements.

[sec]

Originally Posted by DRNewcomb

Does anyone know if a transfer of some of the balance from one UM card to the other counts as activity for computing card expiration?

Interesting question. My immediate answer would be that it doesn't count.

I think the English wording of the FAQ is misleading, since it states: "SIM card and credit will become invalid if the credit has not changed for nine months." Credit does change if you make a transfer!

However, the French FAQ is more consistent with my immediate answer:"La carte SIM et le crédit deviennent caducs au bout de neuf mois à compter de la dernière utilisation." (and I wouldn't say that recharging is an "utilisation").

Italian FAQ further confirms this, as it states, after having used the same wording ("from the last use of the sim"): "this applies both to the initial credit and to the subsequent recharges").

La carta SIM e il credito scadono dopo nove mesi dall'ultimo utilizzo. Questo vale sia per la carta SIM compreso il credito iniziale, sia per ogni ricarica successiva

I would say, therefore, that the transfer doesn't count, but it's my own interpretation...

[MrEd]

Originally Posted by DRNewcomb

Does anyone know if a transfer of some of the balance from one UM card to the other counts as activity for computing card expiration? If so, I know when the next time is that I need to generate some more "activity". If not, I probably need to send an SMS or something to keep them alve.

I'm kind of at the point that I have too many SIMs. I've had some cards die on me because I couldn't keep track of the occasional activity requirements.

I doubt if transfer of credit counts as Activity. Think about this rationally.

UM, like any provider wants you to use the call credit and not use them as a "bank account".

A business is about offering a service for the consumer which the consumer pays for in return, thus earning the business revenue/profit.

One factor in the business model used by a particular provider will be the typical rate at which call credit is used up. Customers that do not use up their call credit within a "reasonable time" are not contributing to the business model by not making calls, hence the clause to loose call credit if not used after a pre determined time. If too many customers do not use their credit, then this can imbalance the model and cause problems.

Additionally, If there is no life span on the call credit, those customers that do not use call credit are a "liability" in accounting terms. Hence the need for UM and others to impose a life span on call credit. If no time limit were set, then how can a provider account for an unknown quantity of funds over an infinite period of time?

From a pragmatic point of view, why would you want a lot of your money sat in someone elses pocket for months/years, when it could be put to the use either as it was intended (making phone calls) or better spent else where?

A service provider/business is providing you with a service. If you have paid for that service but choose not to use it for a long time, then it's not unreasonable that the service provider consider you a "dead" customer an impose the terms to which you have agreed to at the time of purchase and cancel your call credit.

My advise would be to only top up any Prepaid SIM by the amount you expect to use in the short term/immediate future. Think "Use it or loose it" and you wont go far wrong or loose out.

[MATHA531]

Originally Posted by MrEd

I doubt if transfer of credit counts as Activity. Think about this rationally.

UM, like any provider wants you to use the call credit and not use them as a "bank account".

A business is about offering a service for the consumer which the consumer pays for in return, thus earning the business revenue/profit.

One factor in the business model used by a particular provider will be the typical rate at which call credit is used up. Customers that do not use up their call credit within a "reasonable time" are not contributing to the business model by not making calls, hence the clause to loose call credit if not used after a pre determined time. If too many customers do not use their credit, then this can imbalance the model and cause problems.

Additionally, If there is no life span on the call credit, those customers that do not use call credit are a "liability" in accounting terms. Hence the need for UM and others to impose a life span on call credit. If no time limit were set, then how can a provider account for an unknown quantity of funds over an infinite period of time?

From a pragmatic point of view, why would you want a lot of your money sat in someone elses pocket for months/years, when it could be put to the use either as it was intended (making phone calls) or better spent else where?

A service provider/business is providing you with a service. If you have paid for that service but choose not to use it for a long time, then it's not unreasonable that the service provider consider you a "dead" customer an impose the terms to which you have agreed to at the time of purchase and cancel your call credit.

My advise would be to only top up any Prepaid SIM by the amount you expect to use in the short term/immediate future. Think "Use it or loose it" and you wont go far wrong or loose out.

Purely and simply, as far as I am concerned, it is highway robbery. The worst, of course, are the French carriers which in some cases steal your credit after as little as 15 days.

I think this is one area where the eu can come to the aide of consumers throughout the eu and outlaw the practice of allowing carriers to steal your credit. (didn't some sort of German court outlaw the practice in Germany?)

[MrEd]

Originally Posted by MATHA531

Purely and simply, as far as I am concerned, it is highway robbery. The worst, of course, are the French carriers which in some cases steal your credit after as little as 15 days.

I think this is one area where the eu can come to the aide of consumers throughout the eu and outlaw the practice of allowing carriers to steal your credit. (didn't some sort of German court outlaw the practice in Germany?)

I'm playing "Devils Advocate" here, but how can it be robbery if the customer has decided to make the purchase and agreed to the terms?

[DRNewcomb]

Well the German FAQ is kind of vague:

A: Die Sim Karte und das Gesprächsguthaben verfallen nach neun Monaten ab letzter Nutzung.

OK, so what's "letzter Nutzung" (last use)? Last time I turned the phone on? Received a SMS? Received a free incoming call?

[VladS]

Originally Posted by DRNewcomb

OK, so what's "letzter Nutzung" (last use)? Last time I turned the phone on? Received a SMS? Received a free incoming call?

The way I understand it is the last chargeable use (ie outbound calls, SMS sent, incoming calls in non-free countries).

[DRNewcomb]

Originally Posted by VladS

The way I understand it is the last chargeable use (ie outbound calls, SMS sent, incoming calls in non-free countries).

Back on 16 Nov I sent UM an e-mail telling them that I was confused by the fact that each language FAQ had a different explanation of the SIM expiration policy and asking for a clearer explanation. To date I have received no reply to my e-mail and the FAQs remain the same.

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by DRNewcomb

Back on 16 Nov I sent UM an e-mail telling them that I was confused by the fact that each language FAQ had a different explanation of the SIM expiration policy and asking for a clearer explanation. To date I have received no reply to my e-mail and the FAQs remain the same.

Going to "old Europe" soon, July 17. Logged onto my UM+ account. Says its dormant. I believe I did and SMS back in the winter and was charged for it.

Interesting, while the FAQ tells me 9 months..... The SMS tells me "no expiry".

Also interesting..... instead of ATT or T-Mobile the phone said United Mobile when it booted up. Now it says T-Mobile.

So, is it 9 months or no expiration? Any comments or experience of anyone actually losing their service?

Stan