If your Pay As You Go SIM card isn’t used for a certain amount of time, your credit can expire and your account can be closed.
Pay As You Go mobile phone tariffs are often ideal for people who only use their phone occasionally. Unlike Pay Monthly contracts, there are no regular monthly charges and you only need to pay for what you actually use.
One thing to investigate closely when choosing a Pay As You Go mobile network is the credit expiry and SIM card cancellation policy. On most mainstream mobile networks, your credit will not expire as long as you make a chargeable activity at least once every six months (e.g. an outgoing phone call, text message or use of mobile internet). However, some smaller mobile networks have a much stricter policy and your credit can expire just 90 days from top-up. Your SIM card could also be cancelled automatically if you haven’t used it for as little as 84 days.
In this article, we’ll review and compare the credit expiry and SIM card cancellation policy of UK Pay As You Go mobile networks.
Overview of Inactivity Policies
In the following table, we’ve summarised the credit expiry and SIM card cancellation policy of UK Pay As You Go mobile networks. Unless otherwise stated in the table, the times listed refer to an inactivity period (e.g. so your credit will only expire if your SIM card is left unused for more than a certain amount of time).
Mobile Network
Inactivity Period (Amount of time without chargeable event)
PAYG Credit Expiry
SIM Card Cancellation
Phone Number Deleted
ASDA Mobile 
270 days 
270 days
restricted use after 180 days
360 days
EE
180 days
180 days
180 days
giffgaff
6 months
6 months
6 months
O2
6 months
6 months
6 months
Tesco Mobile
6 months
6 months
6 months
Three
6 months
6 months
6 months
Virgin Mobile
180 days
180 days
180 days
Vodafone
270 days
270 days
270 days
Smaller Pay As You Go Networks:
Co-Operative Mobile
180 days
180 days
180 days
Delight Mobile
90 days
from date of top-up
120 days
120 days
iD Mobile
90 days
(also 365 days from top-up)
90 days
90 days
Lebara Mobile
90 days
from date of top-up
84 days
84 days
Lycamobile
90 days
from date of top-up
120 days
120 days
Orange
6 months
6 months
6 months
Talkmobile
180 days
180 days
180 days
Tello
6 months
6 months
6 months
T-Mobile
180 days
180 days
180 days
TPO Mobile
3 months
3 months
3 months
Vectone Mobile
90 days
from date of top-up
120 days
120 days
PAYG Credit Expiry: When your Pay As You Go credit expires, you’ll no longer be able to use it or recover it. On most mainstream mobile networks, your credit will never expire providing your SIM card remains active. However, on some smaller mobile networks, your credit can expire just 90 days after top-up.
SIM Card Cancellation: When your SIM card is cancelled by the network, you’ll lose coverage on your phone with an error message like “Inactive SIM” or “SIM card registration failed”. Your SIM card will be cancelled automatically if you haven’t used it for a certain amount of time (between 84 days and 270 days depending on the network).
Phone Number Deleted: In some cases, your phone number will remain even if your SIM card has already been cancelled. This means you’ll be able to restore service on the phone number and you’ll be able to use a PAC Code to transfer the number to phone another network. If a phone number has been deleted by your mobile network, it’ll no longer be possible to recover it or transfer it to another network.
Recommended Deal For Light Users
At present, ASDA Mobile is our recommend network for light mobile users. They have super-competitive rates and the most customer-friendly inactivity policy (your credit will never expire providing you use your phone at least once every 270 days):
ASDA Mobile
Low Pay As You Go rates. 8p/minute, 4p/text and 5p/MB. See full rates here.
Your credit will never expire. You just need to use your phone once every 270 days.
Uses the EE network. 99% coverage, 3G internet only, check coverage here.
ASDA Mobile has one of the most customer-friendly inactivity policies of any UK mobile network.
ASDA Mobile is currently our recommended network for light mobile users. They have a Pay As You Go SIM card where your credit never expires (you just need to use your phone every 270 days to keep the SIM card active).
ASDA has highly competitive Pay As You Go rates of 8p/minute, 4p/text and 5p/MB. They also allow a minimum top-up of only £5. Regular users can save even more with a 30-day bundle.
ASDA Mobile has 99% population coverage (they have 2G and 3G coverage from the EE network). It’s a straightforward process to transfer your current phone number to ASDA Mobile.
Order ASDA Mobile SIM card (Free) »
Through the rest of this article, we’ll discuss the inactivity policy of each mobile network in more depth.
Major Pay As You Go Networks
ASDA Mobile
On ASDA Mobile, you should normally use your SIM card at least once every 180 days in order to keep it active. Providing you do this, your credit will never expire and your account will always remain open.
After 180 days of inactivity on your account, outgoing phone calls will be forwarded to ASDA’s automated service (you’ll need to call them on 0800 079 2732 to re-instate a full service for outgoing calls). After 270 days of inactivity on the account, unused credit will be removed and the SIM card will be cancelled. Finally, after 360 days of inactivity, your phone number will be deleted by ASDA Mobile.
For more information, see the ASDA Mobile FAQs (search for ’emergency usage’):
On any Asda pay as you go SIM card, you must make a chargeable call or send a text every 180 days to keep the number fully active.
If you haven’t used your SIM in the last 180 days, your calls will be forwarded to our automated service, however you will still be able to receive inbound calls. To reactivate your SIM, you will need to call us on 0800 079 2732 from a landline to reactivate your account.
If you haven’t used your Asda SIM in the last 270 days, all activity will be barred from your SIM card and all credit will be removed. You can reactivate the SIM by purchasing an Asda top up voucher and then call customer services from a landline on 0800 079 2732 who will be able to reactivate your account.
After 360 days, the number will be disconnected from the network and the number will be deleted. We’re unable to reactivate a SIM if the number has not been used for over 360 days.
The legal terms relating to this policy can be found in clause 3.1(c) of the ASDA Mobile Terms & Conditions:
3.1 We can suspend (i.e. bar) or terminate the provision of the Services (in whole or in part) without telling you (although we will, where possible, inform you that action may be taken)
…
(c) if you choose not to use the Services for a continuous period of 180 days (‘use the Services’ means (i) making any chargeable outbound calls (excluding calls to 2732, see Price Plan for prices), or (ii) any topping up of your account);
Source: ASDA Mobile Terms & Conditions (dated June 2016)
Tariff Information: ASDA Mobile Website
EE
EE will disconnect Pay As You Go customers if no “connection actions” are taken for 180 days. At the same time as the disconnection, unused credit will be removed and your EE phone number will also be deleted from the system.
You can keep your account active either by topping it up (£5 minimum) or by making a chargeable activity (this includes making a chargeable call, text or data connection). From clause 6.3 of the EE Pay As You Go Terms & Conditions:
6.3 You must make a Connection Action at least once every 180 days. If You do not, Your SIM Card will be disconnected from the Network and You will not be able to use the Services. You will lose Your mobile phone number and any Credit on Your Account at the time of such disconnection will be forfeited.
If you’re opted in to one of EE’s Pay As You Go packs, you may find that credit is deducted from your account automatically either every week or every month. To stop this, you can opt-out of the packs by texting STOP PACK to 150. This will allow you to keep the credit on your account for longer (without a pack, your credit will expire only after 180 days of inactivity).
Source: EE Pay As You Go Terms & Conditions (version 01B, dated January 2017)
Tariff Information: EE Website
giffgaff
giffgaff will disconnect your SIM card if your account has been inactive for a period of six months or more. You’ll lose your unused credit and your giffgaff phone number will also be deleted from the system.
There are several ways to keep your giffgaff account active such as making a phone call, sending a text message, accessing the internet, receiving 4 phone calls of more than 10 seconds, topping up your phone or earning Payback points. Clauses 13.3 to 13.5 of the giffgaff Terms & Conditions state:
13.3. Your SIM Card will be disconnected unless, at least once every six months, your Account is used to:
a) make at least one call, SMS or MMS to another number (not including calls to emergency services or Member Services);
b) make at least one connection to the Internet;
c) make at least 4 received calls of more than 10 seconds;
d) make at least one airtime credit or Bundle purchase; or
e) receive Payback Points.
13.4. If your SIM Card is disconnected, you will lose any remaining credit or Bundle balance on your Account and if you wish to be re-connected, you will be given a new mobile phone number.
13.5 If your SIM Card is disconnected and you wish your SIM Card to be reconnected to the Network, you must contact Member Services. If we agree to reconnect you, you may pay a reconnection fee unless the disconnection was due to our negligence. A detail of the current reconnection fee is available on request.
If you’re converting your credit into a goodybag bundle, your allowances will expire one month after the goodybag purchase. For more information, please read our full giffgaff review.
Note: To qualify for giffgaff Payback Points, a slight stricter 3-month policy applies:
7.5. To qualify for Payback Points you must have an active SIM Card at the Payback Date and have successfully made a connecting call or SMS to any mobile or used mobile internet at least once in the 3 months prior to end of the relevant Payback Period.
Source: giffgaff Terms & Conditions (dated 14th December 2016)
Tariff Information: giffgaff Website
O2
On O2 Pay & Go, customers will have their SIM card disconnected after six months of inactivity. You’ll also lose your phone number and any unused credit remaining on the account. From clause 7.1 of the O2 Pay & Go Terms and Conditions:
7.1. If you do not carry out any chargeable activity at least once in any 6 month period your Mobile Phone will be disconnected and you will lose any remaining credits balance on your Account. If you wish to be re-connected after this time you will be given a new Mobile Phone number.
Customers buying an O2 Big Bundle will see their allowances expiring after one month. If you don’t want your credit to be converted automatically into a monthly Big Bundle, you should switch to O2 Classic Pay As You Go.
Source: O2 Pay & Go: Terms & Conditions (dated 13th June 2014)
Tariff Information: O2 Website
Tesco Mobile
Customers on Tesco Mobile Pay As You Go will lose their service after six months of inactivity. This is stated in clause 5.4 of the Pay As You Go Terms & Conditions:
5.4 If you do not use your Mobile Phone for six months we will disconnect you and you will lose your Credits and Mobile Phone number. If your Mobile Phone is disconnected and you would like to reconnect it, you must call Customer Care.
Source: Tesco Pay As You Go Terms & Conditions (dated 25th September 2006)
Tariff Information: Tesco Mobile Website
Three
Three will suspend your Pay As You Go account if you don’t top-up or make a chargeable event in a six-month period. According to clause 9.1(h) of the Three Pay As You Go Terms & Conditions:
9.1 We may Suspend any or all of the Three Services you use without notice if
…
(h) you have not activated a Pay As You Go Voucher on your account or undertaken any chargeable events or activities (for example, made telephone calls, sent text or photo messages, accessed content or the internet or any other Three Services for which a charge is made) using any credit or allowance on your account within the preceding 6 month period.
Source: Three Terms & Conditions
Tariff Information: Three Website
Virgin Mobile
If you’re on one of Virgin Mobile‘s latest Pay As You Go tariffs (e.g. the Big Data & Texts or Big Talk tariffs), there’s an inactivity period of 180 days. You’ll need to make a chargeable phone call or text message at least once during this period. According to clauses 3.7 and 7.2(g) of their terms & conditions:
3.7 Keep talking!: You need to use our Services at least once within any 180 day period either by making a chargeable call or sending a text message. If you don’t we may suspend your access to the Services and disconnect you from the Network. We don’t really want to lose you as a customer so please ensure you keep talking or texting!
7.2 Suspension for other reasons: We may also suspend your use of the Services and disconnect your SIM from the Network without giving you notice if you, or anyone who uses your SIM:
…
(g) chooses not to use our Services within a 180 day period either by making a chargeable call or sending a text message;
If you’re on an older tariff such as “Pay As You Go Addict” or “Simply 8p”, the inactivity period may be 90 days instead. Please refer to clause 3.8 of the old terms and conditions.
Source: Virgin Mobile: Terms & Conditions for ‘Big Data & Texts’ and ‘Big Talk’ (dated July 2012)
Tariff Information: Virgin Mobile Website
Vodafone
If you’re a Vodafone Pay As You Go customer, you’ll need to top-up your phone or make a chargeable outbound activity at least once every 270 days. You’ll be sent a reminder by SMS after 180 days of inactivity on the account.
For more information, please refer to clauses 6(a)3 and 6(b) of the Vodafone Pay As You Go Airtime Conditions:
6a. We can suspend (in other words bar), restrict or stop providing the services (all or part of them) in the following circumstances:
…
3. You choose not to use the service for 180 consecutive days. Using the service means making any chargeable outbound activity such as making an outbound call (excluding calls to 191), sending an SMS, using data or topping up your account.
6b. If we suspend the mobile equipment because you have chosen not to use the services (as defined in 6a3 above) for 180 consecutive days we will send you an SMS notifying you that you should top up your account or make a chargeable outbound call (but not calls to 191), send a chargeable SMS or use your data within the next 90 days. If you then fail to make any chargeable outbound calls (but not calls to 191), send a chargeable SMS, use your data or top up your account within 90 days from the date of the SMS because you have not kept to this agreement or not used the services for 270 consecutive days, we will disconnect your mobile equipment, and you will lose any credit held on your account.
If you’re on one of Vodafone’s Big Value Bundles, your airtime credit will be converted automatically into a bundle each month. If you don’t want your credit to be used up each month, you should change to an alternative tariff such as Freebie Data.
Source: Vodafone Pay As You Go Airtime Conditions (dated April 2016)
Tariff Information: Vodafone Website
Smaller Pay As You Go Networks
On mainstream mobile networks, you’ll normally be able to leave your SIM card unused for up to 6 months or 9 months at a time. Providing you do this, your account will remain open and your Pay As You Go credit will never expire.
On smaller virtual network operators, the inactivity policy is much more varied. On some of the smaller networks, your SIM card could be cancelled after as little as 84 days of inactivity. Some of the smaller mobile networks will also remove your credit if you don’t use it within 90 days of the top-up (this is regardless of how many times you’ve used your phone during the period).
Co-Operative Mobile
Customers of The Co-Operative Mobile will either need to use their phone for a chargeable call or will need to top-up their account at least once every 180 days. From sections 7.1 and 7.4 of the Co-Operative Mobile Terms & Conditions:
We may disconnect Your SIM if, during the previous 180 days, You have not made a Top-up or used the Service. You will be notified and Your mobile telephone number will be designated for reassignment. On reconnection You will be assigned a new telephone number.
…
Upon Termination (by You or Us) or suspension of this Agreement, no credits or refunds will be given for unused Credit Balance.
Source: The Co-Operative Mobile Terms & Conditions
Tariff Information: The Co-Operative Mobile Website
Delight Mobile
On Delight Mobile, your Pay As You Go credit will automatically expire 90 days from the date of the relevant top-up. For instance, if you were to top-up with £10 of credit on April 1st, any leftover credit remaining from that £10 will automatically expire on June 30th.
Furthermore, if you don’t use your Delight Mobile SIM card for a period of 120 days, it will be disconnected and your phone number will be lost. For more information, see clause 12(b) of the Delight Mobile terms and conditions:
(b) We can cancel this agreement immediately if any of the following occur:
i. Where you do not use the services at least once every 120 days your Delight Mobile SIM will be disconnected from the network, this Agreement will be terminated, multifunctional top-up voucher recorded on your account that has not expired will be forfeited and you will lose your number;
ii. The validity of each top up is 90 days. Post the 90 days validity period, the credit will expire and the customer will not be entitled to a refund of the expired credit.
Source: Delight Mobile Terms & Conditions
Tariff Information: Delight Mobile Website
iD Mobile
On iD Mobile, your Pay As You Go account will be closed automatically after 90 days of inactivity. If this happens, you’ll also lose any unused credit on your account. This is stated in the iD Mobile Pay As You Go FAQs:
I no longer need my Pay-As-You-Go plan. Do I have to cancel it?
No, you don’t need to do anything. Your SIM will expire after 90 days of inactivity, so if you’ve any top-up credit remaining, use it or you’ll lose it!
Additionally, your Pay As You Go credit will also expire 365 days after the date of the relevant top-up (this will be the case even if you keep your account active). For instance, if you were to top-up by £10 on January 1st, any leftover credit remaining from that £10 will expire automatically on December 31st. This is stated in clause 8.5(a) of the iD Mobile Pay As You Go terms and conditions:
8.5 Any unused Credit will expire:
(a) 365 days from the date of purchase;
Source: iD Mobile Pay As You Go FAQ
Tariff Information: iD Mobile Website
Lebara Mobile
On Lebara Mobile, all Pay As You Go credit expires 90 days from the date of the relevant top-up. For instance, if you were to top-up by £10 on April 1st, any leftover credit remaining from that £10 will expire on June 30th.
In addition to their credit expiry policy, Lebara also requires you to use your SIM card at least once every 84 days. If you don’t make an chargeable phone call or text message for 84 days, your account will be closed and your SIM card will be terminated. Your phone number and Pay As You Go credit will both be lost when this happens.
For more information, see clause 60 of the Lebara Mobile terms and conditions:
60. If you do not use the Pre-Pay Services to make at least one chargeable event or outgoing call for a period of 84 days, this Agreement will be deemed to be terminated by you, and the Service will be disconnected.
Source: Lebara Mobile Terms & Conditions
Tariff Information: Lebara Mobile Website
Lycamobile
On Lycamobile, all Pay As You Go credit will expires 90 days from the date of your top-up. For example, if you were to top-up by £10 on April 1st, any credit remaining from that £10 will expire automatically on June 30th.
Further to this, customers also need to make a chargeable event or need to top-up their phone once every 120 days (a warning is sent after 90 days). If 120 days elapse since the last chargeable event, your account will be closed and you’ll lose any remaining credit. Your phone number will also be reallocated to another customer. Please see clauses 3.3-3.5 and clause 4.6 of the Lycamobile Terms & Conditions:
3.3 If you do not use your SIM Card to make a voice call, or send a message or data, or if you do not purchase a top-up using the Top-Up Services, for a period of ninety (90) days from the date you registered or activated your Account or your last use of the Services (whichever is later), Lycamobile will contact you by SMS or e-mail advising you that your SIM Card will be deactivated. Lycamobile will then provide you with an additional thirty (30) days to make a voice call, send a message or data, or purchase a top-up using the Top-Up Services.
3.4 If you make a voice call, send a message or data, or purchase a top-up using the Top-Up Services within the additional thirty (30) day period, your SIM Card will remain active. Any previous credit balance in your Account will remain available for you to use, and you will be able to access and use the Services.
3.5 If you do not make a voice call, send a message or data, or purchase a top-up using the Top-Up Services within the additional thirty (30) day period, your SIM Card will be deactivated. If the SIM Card is deactivated, your specific telephone number will be reallocated to another Customer, you will not be able to access or use the Services, and you will not be entitled to a refund of any credit balance in your Account.
…
4.6 From 5 August 2014 any new top up credit shall expire ninety [90] days from the date of top-up or recharge. For the avoidance of doubt, this does not apply to the existing credit balance in your Account before 5 August 2014.
Source: Lycamobile Terms & Conditions
Tariff Information: Lycamobile Website
Orange
Customers on Orange Pay As You Go will have their account terminated if it isn’t used for a period of six months. Your phone number will also be reassigned to another customer. There is some discretion for Orange to re-credit any lost balance but this isn’t guaranteed by the terms & conditions. From clause 3.4 of the Orange Pay As You Go Network Terms:
3.4 We will disconnect your Device if during the previous six months, you have not Registered a new Top Up or you have not made chargeable calls from your Device. For the avoidance of doubt calls shall include but not be limited to voice calls, data calls and text messaging. On disconnection your mobile telephone number will be reassigned. On Reconnection you will be assigned a new mobile telephone number. Orange may at its discretion, on request and on Reconnection to the Services, recredit the amount remaining on your account at the time it was disconnected.
Source: Orange Pay As You Go Network Terms (dated 15th November 2012)
Tariff Information: EE Website
Talkmobile
Talkmobile will disconnect Pay As You Go customers if more than 180 days have passed since the last chargeable activity or top-up. Clause 4.1.4 of the Talkmobile Terms & Conditions states that:
4.1. We can at our discretion bar your SIM Card from making calls (other than to the emergency services), sending MMS and/or SMS messages and/or sending or receiving data and/or disconnect your SIM Card from the Network, if:
…
4.1.4. if you do not use the Services for 180 days. Using the Service means making a chargeable outbound call (but not calls to 5888), sending a chargeable SMS, using data or topping up your account.
Source: Talkmobile Terms & Conditions (dated May 2015)
Tariff Information: Talkmobile Website
Tello
Tello will disconnect your SIM card if you don’t use it for a period of 6 months. This can be seen in the Tello terms and conditions under the Tello UK SIM and Pay As You Go Service Agreement sub-headings:
Tello SIM is a prepay service that does not imply any minimum contract period. No prior notice or cancellation fees are speculated when customers want to stop using the service. If Tello SIM is not used for a period of 6 months (no calls, texts or data usage is registered), the SIM will be deactivated and all unused balance will be lost. Upon SIM deactivation, Tello recalls no obligation to refund any lost data, Pay As You Go credit, minutes or any other account balance.
…
Pay As You Go balance is available for a period of 6 months since customer’s last order or call. If no order or call was placed in a period of 6 months, SIM and Pay As You Go credit will not be available for calls.
Source: Tello Terms & Conditions
Tariff Information: Tello Website
T-Mobile
Customers on T-Mobile Pay As You Go are required to make a “connection action” at least once every 180 days. If you don’t use your phone for 180 days, your account will be closed and you’ll also lose any remaining credit as well as your phone number.
According to T-Mobile, “connection actions include topping up your account and making a chargeable call.” From clause 6(c) of their Pay As You Go Terms of Service:
(c) You must make a connection action at least once every 180 days. If you do not your SIM will be disconnected from the network and you will not be able to use the service at all. You will lose your mobile phone number. Any credit on your account at the time of such disconnection will be forfeited.
Source: T-Mobile Pay As You Go Terms of Service (version 59A, dated November 2010)
Tariff Information: EE Website
TPO Mobile
TPO Mobile (The People’s Operator) will suspend your service after three months of inactivity. Your phone number will also be lost. According to clause 8 of their Pay As You Go Terms & Conditions:
We may suspend or cancel the Services (or any part of it) immediately and/or end this agreement if:
…
you have not used the Services, or topped up your account, for more than 3 months. You will lose any unused credit.
Source: TPO Mobile: Pay As You Go Terms & Conditions (dated October 2016)
Tariff Information: TPO Mobile Website
Vectone Mobile
On Vectone Mobile, your Pay As You Go credit will automatically expire 90 days from the date of the relevant top-up. For example, if you were to top-up by £10 on April 1st, any leftover credit remaining from that £10 will automatically expire on June 30th.
Furthermore, in order to keep your account active, customers must use their SIM card at least once every 120 days. If more than 120 days have passed since the last chargeable activity, your account will be closed and your phone number will be lost. For more information, see clause 12(a) of the Vectone Mobile terms and conditions:
(a) We can cancel this agreement immediately if any of the following occur:
i. Where you do not use the Services at least once every 120 days your Vectone Mobile SIM will be disconnected from the Network, this Agreement will be terminated, any Multifunctional Top-up Voucher recorded on your Account that has not expired will be forfeited and you will lose your Number;
ii. If any call credit is not used within 90 days, (including any credit that has been allocated to you by a Vectone administrator) Vectone will place your My Vectone Account on inactive status and you will not be entitled to a refund of any remaining credit stored thereto.
Source: Vectone Mobile Terms & Conditions
Tariff Information: Vectone Mobile Website
As always, we strongly recommend you double-check the details listed here against your mobile network’s website. Terms and conditions can change occasionally along with your mobile network’s policy on credit expiry and cancellation.
More Information
For more information, please refer to your mobile network’s website. Currently, our recommended mobile network for light users is ASDA Mobile due to their low rates and the customer-friendly inactivity policy.
If you’ve chosen a mobile network which you’d now like to join, please see our guide to latest free SIM card offers. You can also see our Pay As You Go price comparison tables and our guide to transferring your phone number between mobile networks.
The post Pay As You Go Inactivity: Time For PAYG Credit Expiry & SIM Card Cancellation appeared first on Ken's Tech Tips.
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