REALLY basic mob. phone question......laugh if you so desire.

[Pan]

Have left my mobile at work - won't be there for a week or so.

I have a v. old Nokia, but it doesn't seem to have any 'network' coverage. It WAS on Tesco about 2 years ago - called the (Un)Help Centre, but the autovoice isn't of any use. There is no logo on the phone screen denoting a network.

How can I tell if it is on any network still, and if it isn't on any can I just get a voucher and load it with that. Just want to avoid spending a tenner on a voucher IF it won't allow access to a network.
tia

[bigbadtiger]

Tesco do cancel the sims if they go unused for a while (I had that happen to an old one). You should just be able to get a new sim and put it in. If you get another Tesco one then there shouldnt be any problem about it being locked to a particular provider (as the phone was OK with Tesco before)

[exexpat]

Have you tried calling the number of the old phone? But I would guess if it hasn't been used at all for two years, it will have been automatically deregistered and the number quite possibly reallocated to someone else - depending on the network, I think they often only give you 3-6 months without using a PAYG phone before doing this.

You may need to get a new sim card with a new number (assuming it is an unlocked phone). Or just go and get a new really basic PAYG phone - might only cost you a tenner anyway.

[Pan]

right - just called it and results in a continous tone - so nothing doing on any network.

[Pan]

ok - off to shop for cheapest sim/phone deal for the week.

thanks for all the advice.

[bigbadtiger]

You dont necessarily need a new phone - the sim is the gateway to a network, so if that isnt active you will have no connection, it says nothing at all about whether the phone will work with an active sim.

[Pan]

bigbad - last time I used the phone it was working fine, and I use it now only for the alarm function. Am sure it will work with a replacement sim if this one is now defunct.

[SquongebobSparepants]

When my phone conked out and was being fixed I got a cheapy £4 phone from carphone warehouse. They found it really hard to understand that I wanted the cheapest phone. And then I wasn't allowed to buy it without £10 credit, so it cost £15. Still not too bad for a spare.
Is handy for prank calling mates though...

[Pan]

job done - 99p for a new sim, £10 for top up voucher, which will see me for the week.
again thanks for your illuminations.