Forum Discussion

PeterSc_2226258's avatar
PeterSc_2226258
SMARTY Maverick
12-08-2023

Failure to activate new SIM

Just order a SIM and tried to activate yesterday. The dashboard told me that it would happen in 2 hours and my old number will port on Monday. Activation didn't happen and a 4 hour web chat got me nowhere other than being told to wait as they are working in it. Still no progress today. Anyone else in the same situation? Customer Service not very impressive considering I'm a new customer 😔

33 Replies

  • MSF's avatar
    MSF
    SMARTY Guru
    12-08-2023

    PeterSc_2226258  Did you try to port your number before you had confirmation that the new sim had been activated?

    I can't help wondering if that may have thrown the system into disarray as it was trying to get the details of a sim that did not yet appear as cleared on the system.

    • PeterSc_2226258's avatar
      PeterSc_2226258
      SMARTY Maverick
      12-08-2023

      I entered my PAC when I ordered the SIM. The process seemed to allow that and the dashboard says it will port on Monday. I have a smarty phone number but I can't understand why the most basic process falls over .  I am told by my existing provider that the port cannot happen until the new SIM is active. Stalemate!

      • MSF's avatar
        MSF
        SMARTY Guru
        12-08-2023

        PeterSc_2226258  Firstly, ports only happen on business days and so nothing can happen over the weekend - Monday sounds right.

        I still think that, if you had activated the sim first, you would be able to make calls/send texts/ use data, albeit from an unusual number (contacts would not recognise you)

  • PeterSc_2226258's avatar
    PeterSc_2226258
    SMARTY Maverick
    15-08-2023

    Problem has now been resolved. The activation eventually completed and the port of my old number had to be manually restarted by the tech complaints team. The port has just completed and all seems to work okay. 

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      15-08-2023

      PeterSc_2226258  Good news indeed! It's a pity you had so much aggro, but that should be the end of it hopefully.

      Thanks for letting us know and good luck.

    • JJP2's avatar
      JJP2
      SMARTY Pro-coach
      15-08-2023

      That’s good news and no doubt a relief. 

  • Sid's avatar
    Sid
    SMARTY Maverick
    17-08-2023

    I don't know if it's this group or just Smarty getting their act together but the phone just started working! Thank you so much if it was you chaps! I'm totally stoked!

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      17-08-2023

      Sid  Much as I would love for us lot to take the credit đŸ˜‡, we didn't not do nuffink as we cannot access your account!

      The main thing is that you appear to have service. All's well that ends well.

    • JJP2's avatar
      JJP2
      SMARTY Pro-coach
      17-08-2023

      Nice one !

      As you were in Switzerland, even if you could have somehow got hold of a Smarty SIM, it still wouldn’t have activated - SIM cards only activate for the first time when connected to their home network in their home country. 

  • Strandloper's avatar
    Strandloper
    SMARTY Motivator
    12-08-2023

    PeterSc_2226258,

    Welcome to the Smarty customers forum.

    Smarty Agents are busy people, and they will get things done in time.

    What makes you think you're more special/important than anyone else, just because you describe yourself as a "new customer"?  There are plenty of new AND existing customers who are being dealt with, and by being less than complementary about Smarty won't put you ahead of anyone else.

    If you "tried" to activate yesterday, the best you get is probably by Monday 5pm.  Be patient.

    • Sid's avatar
      Sid
      SMARTY Maverick
      16-08-2023

      You really need to learn how to communicate with people. This response is not helpful. It's simply arrogant and rude.

      Nothing about the OPs post suggested he thought he was better than any other customer. But as a customer, he deserves a service that actually works and when it doesn't, expedient explanation and support. All customers deserve this. It doesn't make any of them special. They just deserve the service thry pay for to be provided to them.

    • PeterSc_2226258's avatar
      PeterSc_2226258
      SMARTY Maverick
      12-08-2023

      Thanks for your "helpful" comments. I don't expect special treatment, but I do expect to receive the service I have paid for.

      • Strandloper's avatar
        Strandloper
        SMARTY Motivator
        12-08-2023

        PeterSc_2226258,

        Your words suggest otherwise, get used to being in the queue just like everybody else, not as your "especially as I'm a new customer" suggest you want to be treated.

  • Sid's avatar
    Sid
    SMARTY Maverick
    16-08-2023

    I posted the same text twice and can't see how to delete a post so have edited this one out. Please read post below.

  • Sid's avatar
    Sid
    SMARTY Maverick
    16-08-2023

    I am a Smarty customer who lost my phone whilst abroad. A new SIM card was ordered and sent, although time passed whilst I arrived home and replaced my phone. When the SIM card was placed in the phone it never activated. My account was suspended temporarily. When I got in touch with customer service the account seemed to be unsuspended but the SIM card still hasn't activated... for two weeks! For 14 days I've been going round in circles with several customer service reps, some worse than others, one who seemed to think I wanted a new contract and was trying to sell me a new contract, ignoring the fact I was just waiting to get my current contract back online. It has all been reported on the same chat thread. I've had about 6 customer service reps trying to "help" me and I'm still waiting for my card to activate. I'm constantly told it has been passed on to a team for resolution and next thing I know I've got a new customer service rep trying to talk me through the same problem, usually repeating what has already been said.

    I think the person, StevenW, who had to go at you for simply asking if anyone else had experienced problem was a bit out of order. Customer service has been very poor and to think that after two weeks I'm still waiting for my service to come back on, just shows an appalling service. No one of any kind of rank, or technical expertise, has attempted to advise or support me and the worst thing about this problem is that my online banking has been screwed up by all this. My online banking is attached to my phone number and requires verification through phone messages it sends me. It's caused a real problem.

    I'm stuck in limbo as I don't even think I can move my number across to another service until this problem is resolved. I have no phone, I have no number, but I'm still paying for the service. A few days ago they debited the bank account, that pays for my service, for a month's usage I haven't had! There's no real support here. I'm really stuck and really fed up.

    • JJP2's avatar
      JJP2
      SMARTY Pro-coach
      16-08-2023

      This is something that forum moderator Matthew_SMARTY needs to look into for you. 

      When you lose a phone, your SIM is blocked, to prevent unauthorised usage. 

      You should have turned off auto renew on your plan, that way you would not have been charged.

      • Sid's avatar
        Sid
        SMARTY Maverick
        16-08-2023

        I didn't want to lose the contract as I think I'm still getting a good deal from Three's roaming charges, as I've had the account so long. The account seems to be unsuspended but the card still won't activate. They haven't  sent me another new card or suggested doing that. They just keep asking me to check if the card is now active. It isn't.

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      17-08-2023

      Sid  One question......When you received the replacement sim, did you go through the exact activation process that they sent with it?

      • Sid's avatar
        Sid
        SMARTY Maverick
        17-08-2023

        I tried to, but when the card went in, and I logged on to Smarty, no notification came up to activate the card. My homepage told me, on my account, that it was still suspended. They then unsuspended the account and told me to try and activate the SIM again. I've been trying to do that for the last two weeks through both methods of logging in and putting in the last 12 digits of the card where I'm told to. My phone is still displaying emergency calls only. My phone recognizes I have a SIM but no service. Every time I talk to customer service nobody seems to help or explain. They ask the same questions  tell me to do the same thing, tell me its been passed on to a team and prioritised, and thrn I just get a new customer service rep and I'm kept going round in circles. Wash, rinse, repeat over and over again!

  • LesleyF_1595372's avatar
    LesleyF_1595372
    SMARTY Enquirer
    13-09-2023

    Yes me... extremely annoyed as the tariff still runs when suspending old sim yet cant use the new one when it arrives. waiting 24 hours now 

    • Strandloper's avatar
      Strandloper
      SMARTY Motivator
      13-09-2023

      LesleyF_1595372,

      Can I suggest reading the help articles that have been kindly supplied by Smarty Staff.

      I believe that they will inform you that your assumption is not that the Tarrif runs from the moment you buy it while still waiting for replacement SIM.  If it does it explains a compensation system.

      I'll leave you to do some reading