I declare myself the queen of silly questions..because here is another one..

Last year while I was in the UK I bought a PAYG Sim from Vodafone to use in my IPhone. While I was there I topped it up and by the time I was getting ready to leave I had used the credit so didn't top it up again.

What I am wondering is..... how long does that SIM remain valid for without a top up? I kept the SIM when I came back to the US because I thought I could use it again when I get back to the UK next month, but I'm wondering if it has a certain 'use by' date, where it gets cancelled or something if not used, or no top up added in a certain period of time.

I know it only cost me 99p so it's no hardship buying another one and starting again, but I'm just curious because I actually had a phone number I could remember, so it would be nice to be able to keep that one.

I got a PAY Go Sim from TMobile for my iPad in 2011. It was handy for using my iPad while visiting the UK. As far as I know it doesn't expire. I just topped it up when I visited the UK. So hopefully you will be able to do the same. I also have a PAY Go phone which I have used on visits to the UK and it is still going stong today. Think I got the phone in 2010.

Thanks for that ! I was hoping it was going to be as simple as buying a top up and off I go...lol.

So far as I know you have to use the SIM at least once every six months and after that time the number is deactivated. This is to avoid overloading the system with inactive numbers. It's possible this has changed in recent times so about the only thing you can do is try using your phone when you get here.

Thanks curley... I think I should be safe because I last used it in mid December last year, so if I get a top up first thing I should be good to go.

I have heard similarly.
But attempts to get a definitive answer from the provider (Tesco mobile) have resulted only in evasive and unresponsive irrelevant information.

Yes, indeed the only way to find out seems to be the hard way. Which is really annoying given that the major use is to coordinate a being picked up by relatives on arrival (before there is a chance to get a new service).

The next thing to try is buying a prepaid phone and seeing if it will activate for the first time thirteen months after buying it.

You would have hoped that buying credit online every six months would keep an unused phone alive, but perhaps not.

If anyone else is looking for a pay as you go SIM card, you can order one from the Virgin UK website for free; you then activate it by topping it up. Another useful thing to do in advance of your move or visit!

But if you put it in your phone and topped it up while still in the US, wouldn't you pay roaming fees the minute you turned the phone on? I've also been told that they're easy enough to get from Heathrow.

Oh, sorry, I was thinking of delivery to your new UK address ready for arrival - that's what I've done, so I'll have a phone from day one without having to drag my tired self anywhere

P.S. Heathrow??? Not on your nelly, terrible place, never ever again!

Ahh that makes more sense...lol

Some of us don't have the choice..lol. Depends on the end location though, so could be Manchester airport too