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Original poster

Can't message or call but can wotsapp

47 replies

purpleme12 · 02/12/2025 00:16

My child has a friend who she can communicate with on wotsapp - that works
HOWEVER she can't text her (it says an error message, I can't remember what as the phone's not with me) but basically doesn't send, and when she tried to call her it didn't work either

Has anyone else had this?? Why does this happen?

OP posts:
NeatJoker · 02/12/2025 00:19

Might be a faulty SIM card if there is no signal.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 02/12/2025 00:23

But whenever we've tried to text it doesn't send. It's not just one time. I've never come across this before

OP posts:
Pinkfluffypencilcase · 02/12/2025 00:28

My phone did this as sim wasn’t activated properly. What’s app messages and calls were fine though when on WiFi. Calls and texts never as had no data.

FrodoBiggins · 02/12/2025 00:39

Not unusual. WhatsApp is a totally different thing.

Imagine the phone has two functions

  1. It's like the phones we had when they first came out and it can call or text (it does this through a sim card on a network like Vodafone, O2, etc)
  2. It's got the Internet on it (through WiFi as well as a different function of the sim using 4g)

WhatsApp only uses 2.

If you turn the Internet off (2) you can call and text still. If you turn the network off (1) you can still use the Internet if its on WiFi.

So sounds like either your daughter or her friend has an issue with (1). Can your daughter call your number? If so the issue is prob at her friend's end. Maybe she has no sim card. Maybe she has the phone on airplane mode but with WiFi still on.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 02/12/2025 00:48

Oh dear 🤦‍♀️
I'm not sure people are following
I'm obviously aware of the different between wotsapp and calls/texts.
They communicate on wotsapp when they're out and about on the way to school on a morning. So not on WiFi.

OP posts:
CombatBarbie · 02/12/2025 00:51

WhatsApp uses data/WiFi. Sounds like the sim hasn't been topped up so the number is essentially defunked. I think most payg sims were 90 or 120 days then it wouldnt work. Or has a data only package?

Original poster
purpleme12 · 02/12/2025 00:55

I didn't know data only existed

It's just frustrating. I don't want my child to have wotsapp. I've been allowing it on a morning so she can communicate with this girl who sometimes gets the bus with her.

But I don't want to allow it at all

OP posts:
FrodoBiggins · 02/12/2025 01:34

🙄bloody hell sorry for trying to help!
I don't think it's an issue with people not understanding, I don't think you explained very well or have a very good idea of what phones do. I thought as you can't spell whatsapp you might not be au fait with the difference between WiFi and mobile networks 😉

Glamba · 02/12/2025 01:54

Without knowing much about the other girl's phone it's impossible to say. One possible scenario is your daughter's number is blocked on her phone. Perhaps her parents have locked down her phone so she can only call certain numbers, and she has illicitly installed WhatsApp on it. Another is that she has WhatsApp somehow loaded up onto a different device such as a tablet, rather than a phone.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I think my android phone has forced me to switch to "chat" messages now, so when I send a text it uses data just like WhatsApp.

Whatever, you may well need the cooperation of both girls to get to the bottom of it.

RocketNan · 02/12/2025 01:58

Have you got parental controls on her phone? Apps like https://www.qustodio.com/en/ are essential for parents.

I am not technical, but sounds weird with the WhatsApp thing. Is the person a legit friend?

Parental control and digital wellbeing software

Over 7 million parents trust Qustodio’s parental control tools to keep their kids’ screen time safe and balanced on every device.

https://www.qustodio.com/en/

LiveToTell · 02/12/2025 02:03

purpleme12 · 02/12/2025 00:48

Oh dear 🤦‍♀️
I'm not sure people are following
I'm obviously aware of the different between wotsapp and calls/texts.
They communicate on wotsapp when they're out and about on the way to school on a morning. So not on WiFi.

Perhaps she has data but no call or text allowance? Or perhaps the number is blocked on calls/texts but not WhatsApp.

Has she asked her friend?

LiveToTell · 02/12/2025 02:03

And it’s WhatsApp.

DysmalRadius · 02/12/2025 02:07

If you know this girl and aren't worried that it's someone catfishing your daughter using a fake profile, then I don't understand why you are bothered about them communicating via WhatsApp?

Original poster
purpleme12 · 02/12/2025 06:35

FrodoBiggins · 02/12/2025 01:34

🙄bloody hell sorry for trying to help!
I don't think it's an issue with people not understanding, I don't think you explained very well or have a very good idea of what phones do. I thought as you can't spell whatsapp you might not be au fait with the difference between WiFi and mobile networks 😉

Ha ha

OP posts:
Original poster
purpleme12 · 02/12/2025 06:44

DysmalRadius · 02/12/2025 02:07

If you know this girl and aren't worried that it's someone catfishing your daughter using a fake profile, then I don't understand why you are bothered about them communicating via WhatsApp?

Because wotsapp (or WhatsApp 😉) causes trouble. Obviously not with this friend I mean.

Anyway just wondered if anyone had experience. Just never come across it

OP posts:
mumofoneAloneandwell · 02/12/2025 07:02

WhatsApp really isn't that big a deal for a kid to have tbh 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
purpleme12 · 02/12/2025 07:08

mumofoneAloneandwell · 02/12/2025 07:02

WhatsApp really isn't that big a deal for a kid to have tbh 🤷‍♀️

Well maybe you've had good experience, that's great and that's up to you for you and your child

My child, (while not bullying) has had it cause some trouble so I've made a decision for my child

OP posts:
mumofoneAloneandwell · 02/12/2025 07:10

purpleme12 · 02/12/2025 07:08

Well maybe you've had good experience, that's great and that's up to you for you and your child

My child, (while not bullying) has had it cause some trouble so I've made a decision for my child

Show quote history

Okay - maybe if the kid has an iPhone, they can imessage?

Sounds like they have a data only sim plan

clarrylove · 02/12/2025 07:13

Are you 100% sure it's not an adult using a PC pretending to be this child?

Worriedmrs · 02/12/2025 07:15

I knew someone from my dd’s school who intentionally did this as they did not want people to know their phone no. So they bought a number on the internet. Activated their WhatsApp with the number and used WhatsApp. They had a sim in their phone with a different phone no.

OldBeyondMyYears · 02/12/2025 07:17

My grandchild has an old iPhone. There is no SIM card in it so she can’t send text messages. She can, however, use WhatsApp (and can spell it…and she’s only 7!) as this works over WiFi.

GAJLY · 02/12/2025 07:17

This happened to.my child too. Turned out because she never used her credit, the number deactivated. She could still use WhatsApp but not call or text. She is on a pay as you go sim, that still has credit on it after a year! I had to turn it off and on, then send a text message. Apparently did get warning messages about losing her number but ignored them! Luckily it worked out fine. But I told her to send a text message once a month to me!

TheMorgenmuffel · 02/12/2025 07:24

Does it matter why? Will knowing why change the situation?

For whatever reason, this child can only communicate via WhatsApp.

That leaves you with 2 choices .1, your child aso uses WhatsApp
2 your child does not use it and they talk when they are together.

randomusernam · 02/12/2025 07:26

She has her blocked. Blocking on WhatsApp and phone need to be done separately.

sickleaveornot · 02/12/2025 07:29

purpleme12 · 02/12/2025 07:08

Well maybe you've had good experience, that's great and that's up to you for you and your child

My child, (while not bullying) has had it cause some trouble so I've made a decision for my child

Show quote history

Those same issues can be called by normal text and calling as well though as it goes through the persons phone number? The only thing that would cause no issues at all is not having a phone in any capacity