Before you unlock your Vodafone SIM card , you need to know something about this procedure. This is a service that allows you to get a new card to replace the old one, completely free of charge. But for this, you need to have information about the latest events using your subscriber number. What these events are, and in what sequence you need to act, we will consider further.
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.
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 transfer Crimean MTS subscribers to local operators
The departure of the largest mobile operator from Crimea could not please the residents of the peninsula. In this regard, since the end of 2021, local authorities, together with the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of Russia, began to work on a roadmap for the development of communications in Crimea, the main goal of which is to introduce the MNP mechanism on the peninsula (allows you to switch from one cellular operator to another while maintaining the number).
The MNP procedure began working in Russia at the end of 2013. It is also available in Crimea - but, as in Russia as a whole, only within one region. Since Crimean MTS SIM cards are formally assigned to the Krasnodar Territory, it is impossible to switch from MTS to Crimean mobile operators. The appearance of licenses for the Krasnodar region among Crimean cellular operators solves this problem.
MTS does not advertise its presence in Crimea. Similarly, local and federal officials try not to mention MTS in their speeches when talking about certain “federal” or “mainland” operators. Thus, Oleg Ivanov and the former Minister of Internal Policy, Communications and Information of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Zyryanov, until recently, announced the emergence in the spring of 2021 of the opportunity to switch from “federal” operators to local ones while maintaining the number.
“Now operators operating in Crimea, as they like to say here - from the “mainland”, subsidize services in Crimea due to the fact that in reality the majority of SIM cards, simply put, are in roaming,” Ivanov explained in an interview with Kryminform. " “This is not the right situation either from the point of view of doing business or from the point of view of ensuring the integrity and stability of the communication network. It needs to be corrected gradually."
“There are local operators in many regions of Russia,” Ivanov continued. — For example, “Motiv”, “Tattelecom”, “Vainakh Telecom” and others, which are actually dominant in the territory of their subjects. As a rule, they attract their subscribers with low tariffs and high-quality services. I think the same situation will happen in Crimea.”
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.
How Crimea moved away from Ukrainian cellular communications to Russian ones
The situation with cellular communications in Crimea looks extremely confusing. In 2014, the Crimean peninsula passed from Ukraine to Russia, after which all Ukrainian cellular operators consistently left the peninsula.
At the same time, in the summer of 2014, Russian SIM cards (MTS) began to be sold on the peninsula. Formally, they are assigned to the Krasnodar Territory and were roaming in the local network of the Ukrainian “daughter” of MTS - MTS-Ukraine (current name, trademark - Vodafone). But no roaming surcharge was charged to such subscribers, and incoming calls were free.
In August 2014, MTS-Ukraine left Crimea. Based on the operator’s infrastructure, a new one (Win Mobile brand) immediately started working. Market participants consider it to be owned by Lebanese entrepreneur Pierre Fatouche, MTS’s partner in the Armenian cellular operator Vivacell, which previously had a similar name “K-Telecom”.
MTS SIM cards assigned to the Krasnodar Territory continued to be sold in Crimea and work in roaming in the K-Telecom network without charging a roaming surcharge. These SIM cards work in the code “978”. Thus, MTS became the main cellular operator in Crimea for a long time, while K-Telecom initially served as an infrastructure operator for MTS.
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
Conditions
To begin with, you will have, as already mentioned, to meet several conditions
Those who do not have access to their previous SIM card should pay special attention to them. For example, when a mobile phone is stolen
The first condition is that the number must belong to you. Restoring a card is possible only in the personal presence of its owner. If the SIM card was not issued to you, you can not hope for success.
How to restore an MTS SIM card? If you have lost your phone (or have no access to the number at all), you will have to block it before starting all the manipulations. Without this, recovery will be impossible. Plus, if there was money on the SIM card, this technique will protect the balance of your mobile phone
Please note that even if you have this component, the process cannot be considered complete without blocking
In principle, these are all essential conditions for bringing our current idea to life. They are usually not that difficult to comply with. So let's figure out how you can restore your mobile phone number from MTS.
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.
Internet to help
How to restore an MTS SIM card? There is another option for solving the problem set before us. True, it is not in great demand.
We are talking about the virtual service “SIM Card Delivery”. You can find it on the official website of the mobile operator. How to restore an MTS SIM card via the Internet? Just activate this option and then fill out the form.
Please note: you must have funds in your account. They will be required to pay for the service, as well as as compensation for the delivery of the SIM card.
Not a very popular method, but it has its place.
This is all. MTS does not provide any other means of restoring the number. In practice, a personal visit to the office is in great demand. Usually he doesn't even require payment. And you can use the SIM card instantly!
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.
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.
Personal visit
The first option to solve the problem is to contact the nearest office of the company. Take your passport with you, and if you have a SIM card. Tell the MTS office employees about your idea. If you have not yet blocked the number, do not remain silent about it. They will quickly help you get through the process, and then (after presenting your passport) they will issue you a new SIM card.
If you simply need to bring your idea to life because the SIM card is not suitable in format for the new phone, you may be offered not a restoration, but a trimming of an existing component. This is not possible in all cases. Therefore, you shouldn’t really hope for this option.
