does the sim card ever expire? was going to buy this to put in a emergency phone I leave in our second home
739771
I believe so. It doesn't activate until you call number. But I would check closely if they cover that area. For instance, I was in 1 part of Nashville and it worked but across town it wouldn't. I had a great amount of trouble with the service. Every time you moved to a new cell you would lose network, and would have to restart phone
739772
It offers 30 days of coverage from activation, so provided you don't activate it, it should be fine to use with your emergency phone.
739773
There was no mention of the SIM cards ever expiring as they are only activated once you send the text. Whoever stocks them would otherwise have to return the ones they don't sell for a replacement if there were an expiry. I bought mine about 45 before I intended using it.
739774
They expire 7, 14, or 30 days after you activate it, depending upon which one you buy (the one you are looking at is a 30 day SIM), regardless of how much you use it, or don't use it, in that time. There is no way to extend the expiration (although they are considering this) so you are forced to buy, insert, and activate a new SIM and you will invariably get a new phone number when you do. The SIMs also have an 'overall' expiration date of around 1 to 2 years which simply means that if you don't activate it in this time, you will not be able to activate it at all. It's like saying juice has a shelf life of 6 months, but has to be consumed within 2 weeks of opening it. They expire 7, 14, or 30 days after you activate it, depending upon which one you buy (the one you are looking at is a 30 day SIM), regardless of how much you use it, or don't use it, in that time. There is no way to extend the expiration (although they are considering this) so you are forced to buy, insert, and activate a new SIM and you will invariably get a new phone number when you do. The SIMs also have an 'overall' expiration date of around 1 to 2 years which simply means that if you don't activate it in this time, you will not be able to activate it at all. It's like saying juice has... » Read More They expire 7, 14, or 30 days after you activate it, depending upon which one you buy (the one you are looking at is a 30 day SIM), regardless of how much you use it, or don't use it, in that time. There is no way to extend the expiration (although they are considering this) so you are forced to buy, insert, and activate a new SIM and you will invariably get a new phone number when you do. The SIMs also have an 'overall' expiration date of around 1 to 2 years which simply means that if you don't activate it in this time, you will not be able to activate it at all. It's like saying juice has a shelf life of 6 months, but has to be consumed within 2 weeks of opening it. « Show Less
2170501
Hi I love to answer you my friend I bought only one of them on amazon and you have to activate it before 30 days of day that you bought it but there is a seller on eBay what has the same Sim cards for the same price and its never expires and I try it already if you need the link or for any questions about it feel free to chat with me on email my address is Feelfreetochatwithme@gmail.com
1959195
At the time I bought it was a regular SIM card. I also bought a cutter to turn it into a micro SIM card. But maybe you can order a micro SIM, since it has passed one year from my last purchase.
1075180
I bought the sim card first and then activate it. The sim card is very cheap tho.
228274
The one I bought was a replacement for a friend who had one go bad. I switched his sim card over from the one he already had. And it worked fine. I imagine you would have to obtain an activated sim card from your provider if you do not already have one. Sorry that is all I know about it.
1770943
Depends on who you buy it from. Detroit Packing Co. is selling them used but with no sim.
1116922
Actually, just 2 weeks ago, I activated my old one for my youngest daughter as a prepaid phone. She has had no problems using it as prepaid. I went to a corporate store before I activated it and they said it's not a problem to activate them as prepaid.
1041209
My daughter and I each got one 2 years ago from T-Mobile. Mine works fine. Her's stopped working, several months ago, too late to be covered under warranty. So thus why I bought this one on Amazon.com. Both her new one and my old one are working fine now. I think this one comes already unlocked, but she unlocked even her first one. She goes to UBC and lives in Vancouver. When she makes the trip between Seattle and Vancouver, she switches the SIM chip in her phone with a Canadian one at the border. She can then use it in both places. It works great to be able to use it in both places, but that may be why her phone stopped working. My daughter and I each got one 2 years ago from T-Mobile. Mine works fine. Her's stopped working, several months ago, too late to be covered under warranty. So thus why I bought this one on Amazon.com. Both her new one and my old one are working fine now. I think this one comes already unlocked, but she unlocked even her first one. She goes to UBC and lives in Vancouver. When she makes the trip between Seattle and Vancouver, she switches the SIM chip in her phone with a Canadian one at the border. She can then use it in both places. It works great to be able to use it in both places, but... » Read More My daughter and I each got one 2 years ago from T-Mobile. Mine works fine. Her's stopped working, several months ago, too late to be covered under warranty. So thus why I bought this one on Amazon.com. Both her new one and my old one are working fine now. I think this one comes already unlocked, but she unlocked even her first one. She goes to UBC and lives in Vancouver. When she makes the trip between Seattle and Vancouver, she switches the SIM chip in her phone with a Canadian one at the border. She can then use it in both places. It works great to be able to use it in both places, but that may be why her phone stopped working. « Show Less
1729200
Sometimes, when you put a new sim card, you need to turn of the phone and turn it back on. I haven't had any problem with mine but I seldom use it anymore. It was an impulse buy.
2264227
Several months ago I too was interested in purchasing this phone. I read other reviews and did what they said. I purchased a used one so that it would already have been activated (and just hoped it would be for the amount of time necessary, i.e. 6 months). I had no problem adding it to my existing contract and number.
228575
works great for pay as you go. No problem on my side. I use the 1 year plan, it's $100 so minutes you buy don't expire until after a year following purchase. 5 cents a minute, perfect for a person who uses the phone infrequently.
1494501
If you add $25 or more, the amount will expire in 90 days. If you add less, it will expire in 30 days if I remember correctly. I signed up my kid for $4.99 for 200 messages per month, plus 10 cents per call and it works out very well. You will have to put money in account every 90 days and all the unused amount from last month ($ and unused messages) will roll over to next month. One of my kid has accumulated >1000 msg rolled over. Kids use lots of text but not talk much on the phone nowadays. BTW, I still have 2 phones with family plan with data for me and my wife. Hope this help your decision. If you add $25 or more, the amount will expire in 90 days. If you add less, it will expire in 30 days if I remember correctly. I signed up my kid for $4.99 for 200 messages per month, plus 10 cents per call and it works out very well. You will have to put money in account every 90 days and all the unused amount from last month ($ and unused messages) will roll over to next month. One of my kid has accumulated >1000 msg rolled over. Kids use lots of text but not talk much on the phone nowadays. BTW, I still have 2 phones with family plan with data for me and my wife. Hope this help your... » Read More If you add $25 or more, the amount will expire in 90 days. If you add less, it will expire in 30 days if I remember correctly. I signed up my kid for $4.99 for 200 messages per month, plus 10 cents per call and it works out very well. You will have to put money in account every 90 days and all the unused amount from last month ($ and unused messages) will roll over to next month. One of my kid has accumulated >1000 msg rolled over. Kids use lots of text but not talk much on the phone nowadays. BTW, I still have 2 phones with family plan with data for me and my wife. Hope this help your decision. « Show Less
2258109
I just received this phone yesterday. Shortly after I activated the telephone with the new Sim card the $50 credit appeared on my account. However, it looks like that $50 credit expires after 60 days. So you have to blow through $50 in two months or you lose whatever is left of the credit. At least that's the way it appears to me. If I find out more or something to the contrary I will follow up.
707974
I could not get these sim cards to work. I called the company and was told that some of them expire after 3 mos or so. Please be careful buying these sim cards. I think you should wait to get there and buy some type of no contract phone. YOu can also buy the phone and sim card online. I hope this helps. I ruined one of my Mom;s phone trying to activate these cards.
851747
There is a short period , 20 minutes or so? The thing to keep in mind is that the phones are not this months phones. The phone I bought had a coupon that expired a year or two before I got it, but the phone works well for the price. Adding minutes to the phone is easy and relatively inexpensive.
1559065
Depending on the plan or card purchased, your service will expire in 30,60,90,or 365 days.
464573
People have various experiences with inserting another SIM after activation. Initial activation does not always unlock the phone globally so be careful. Rooting is an option but it voids the warranty.