Orange SIMs Not Working!?

[Guest grogan197]

Bit of an odd one this. I'm already on Orange with a contract phone so tried that sim in this phone on first boot. I discovered it wasn't letting me make calls so I unlocked the phone and put r2 on to see if it would help. Problem still the same though.

I've been using an asda sim since which was working fine.

This morning I called orange to activate the pay as you go sim that came with the phone. Got it all set up and put it in the phone but it has the same problem. Have also tried 2 other orange contract sims and the problem is always the same. Basicly when you go to make a call it goes straight to the android call ended screen. Txts wont send either. It will however tell me I have voicemail but no way to retrieve it.

All the orange sims I have used are 3G ones. Not sure if the asda one is.

Any ideas? Desperate to try and get it working for when I go on holiday tomorrow!

[Guest orangephone]

What did Orange say about the problem? Did you try calling their customer service ot asking on twitter? Twitter OrangeHelpers. Because a lot of people are saying they respond quickly there.

[Guest wolseley]

I had the same problem. Data worked with orange SIMs, but not calls. When network unlocked data and calls worked on other networks. After rereading all the paperwork, it turns out that Orange put a call block on the phone until you activate it. Go to orange.co.uk/activate and enter your SIM number and the password you created when ordering and it should unblock the phone (yes, you enter the number of the PAYG SIM and it unblocks the phone, not the SIM).

[Guest flash2004]

I had the same problem. Data worked with orange SIMs, but not calls. When network unlocked data and calls worked on other networks. After rereading all the paperwork, it turns out that Orange put a call block on the phone until you activate it. Go to orange.co.uk/activate and enter your SIM number and the password you created when ordering and it should unblock the phone (yes, you enter the number of the PAYG SIM and it unblocks the phone, not the SIM).

This doesn't work for me. The orange website says that they are experiencing some technical difficulties ?

[Guest briankins]

I had the same problem. Data worked with orange SIMs, but not calls. When network unlocked data and calls worked on other networks. After rereading all the paperwork, it turns out that Orange put a call block on the phone until you activate it. Go to orange.co.uk/activate and enter your SIM number and the password you created when ordering and it should unblock the phone (yes, you enter the number of the PAYG SIM and it unblocks the phone, not the SIM).

Thanks! I was ripping my hair out over this, data works but calls and text didn't, until I activated it!

[Guest grogan197]

Thanks for all the help. Got it sorted now! :lol:

I thought I had activated the sim as used the telephone activation robot lady and she said it was activated but when I called customer services they activated it and now all sims are working. yay

[Guest flash2004]

I have unlocked it and now using my o2 sim. Haven't bothered to activate the orange sim...

Cant deal with the orange customer service anymore !!

[Guest flash2004]

£10 is a small price to pay for not talking to Orange customer service :lol:

[Guest wolseley]

I have unlocked it and now using my o2 sim. Haven't bothered to activate the orange sim...

Cant deal with the orange customer service anymore !!

Yes, but if you don't do this the phone will remain blocked on Orange. SIMs from other networks will work fine, but no Orange SIM will work (even contract ones) as the block is on the phone, not the SIM.

[Guest flash2004]

Yes, but if you don't do this the phone will remain blocked on Orange. SIMs from other networks will work fine, but no Orange SIM will work (even contract ones) as the block is on the phone, not the SIM.

Are you sure about this ?

[Guest cagster]

I have unlocked it and now using my o2 sim. Haven't bothered to activate the orange sim...

Cant deal with the orange customer service anymore !!

I feel the same - apart from the Orangehelper twitter bunch who are helpful - the rest of them I found useless. There procedures, training and standards of customer care are shocking - hopefully i will never have any dealings with them again.

[Guest wolseley]

Are you sure about this ?

Pretty sure - the phone had the same symptoms (i.e. data worked, but no calls) with other orange SIMs that I tried, but worked fine with an O2 SIM. I originally didn't activate the PAYG SIM it shipped with as I was intending to put my contract SIM in, but it wasn't until I activated the PAYG SIM that the phone worked on Orange.

Edited September 29, 2010 by wolseley

[Guest deweylewie]

How long does this take to activate? I have the same problems:

The new Orange sim doesn't let me call anything while in my San Francisco but it works fine when I put it in my old phone.

My old asda sim works fine in the San Francisco (its been unlocked).

Their orange.co.uk/activate site gives an error when I try to retrieve my address from postcode so I tried via phone (automated 0800 079 0006) and it says the phone has already been activated.

[Guest dwvl]

Their orange.co.uk/activate site gives an error when I try to retrieve my address from postcode so I tried via phone (automated 0800 079 0006) and it says the phone has already been activated.

Same happened for me. Activating online doesn't seem to unblock the phone's IMEI block on the Orange network. And after the SIM is activated the activate website behaves as you've described.

If I were you I'd contact OrangeHelpers on Twitter. They resolved my problem when I was in the same situation as you, and Orange Customer Services on the phone couldn't fix it. Apparently.

[Guest oh!dougal]

Orange activation (or unblocking from Orange's own network).

I had a different experience.

Put in the Orange sim, and left the phone charging.

After a couple of hours of just sitting quietly, it was sent a stream of texts from Orange - 5 over maybe a ten minute period.

One gave me the sim's phone number (not given anywhere else).

The 4th text, IIRC, spoke of an 'update' or somesuch, with the instruction to delete the text and then turn the phone off and then on again (reboot).

On the reboot the phone gave the only hiccup it has given me so far - not finding the EDIT network SD card !!

Another reboot and it was fine.

Because another Orange sim DID work in the phone (made calls over Orange) - and I haven't done anything else at all to 'Orange Activate' it, I think that the sim-update text deletion seems to have been Orange Activation (unblocking).

Anyone else had this?

Edited October 9, 2010 by oh!dougal

[Guest deweylewie]

Same happened for me. Activating online doesn't seem to unblock the phone's IMEI block on the Orange network. And after the SIM is activated the activate website behaves as you've described.

If I were you I'd contact OrangeHelpers on Twitter. They resolved my problem when I was in the same situation as you, and Orange Customer Services on the phone couldn't fix it. Apparently.

Yeah I finally got it sorted thanks to OrangeHelpers, it was some kind of transit lock. Not sure what the point of it is!

[Guest BrodieG123]

Ok i have literally no idea how to use forums like this and no idea how to use twitter so i dont know if anyone can help?

I just bought an Orange San Francisco off a friend with the intention of putting my Virgin contract sim card into it (unlim texts + internet + 300 mins) however i have the same problem where although i can put the card in and load up the phone fully without any prompt to enter any code to unlock the phone (which would suggest that it is unlocked?) it will not let me send texts and it goes straight to the 'call ended' screen when i try to make a call. I have no access to details on which it was bought and am not at all sure what the problem is or what to do about it?