Activating Old "Never Expires" Vodafone Data Sim and It's Expired

I bought a few of these through an OzBargain deal at the time way back in 2014. Slowly used them over the years mostly during family road trips and when moving homes etc, these last 2 have been sitting on a shelf for a few years since I last used one and when I go to activate it's saying they expired. Fair enough, they are most 6 years old but the whole point at the time was these were never meant to expire. Maybe there's someone reading this who remembers those deals.

A friend has just moved house and there's a delay getting their NBN connection, young family and not much data on their phone plan so I was going to give them these sims along with a WiFi modem and they'd at least have 32GB to play with. Not massive in 2020 but it's something.

Is there any point calling Vodafone or should I just bin these and quickly buy whatever kogan/amaysim deal is running currently?

Poll Options

  • 22
    Call Vodafone - what's this expired nonsense?!
  • 4
    Forget about it - buy another sim, it's 2020!

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Comments

  • Since Nov 2019.

    • Can you elaborate? Do you mean the "Never expires" policy changed in Nov 2019?

      • +1

        I do not think VF ever says "Never expires", just no expiry date. An old physical SIM can be corrupted (activate possible but not usable). There are other reasons you might not know.

        You may be able to bargain instore to get a new one.

        There is same topic on whirlpool too.

  • Buy one of the 5$ 40gb kogan sims, I buy one monthly and they work fine

    • +1

      Okay so I called Vodafone and they said the activation on this expired back in 2015 but I know that's not right because I had been using others after 2015 just fine.

      Anyway when I mentioned we have no internet access (well maybe a teeny white lie, but my friend certainly doesn't) they paused for awhile and then said I can take them into a Vodafone Retail store and get them replaced with working equivalents for free. I'm not sure the store will like that idea but I will try.

      So I'll try that tomorrow and if that fails, yes the $5 Kogan deal is a no brainer thanks.

      • If going in to a store, check and ensure you take it in to a Vodafone owned & operated store, as the privately owned outlets are usually quite unhelpful (unless you're signing up for a contract, etc.).

    • Not worth the hassle to reover. I did activate one VF SIM purchased 15 months after mid 2018. VF may be a bit lenient with 12 months expiry, but not for 24+ months now.

  • +1

    oops I have a few of those, was it a Coles deal and the sim and USB-stick 3G modem were going for $9?

    • +1

      No, but I remember getting some of those too lol. I got these from Domayne. They were tagged as 8GB for $75 but it was marked down heavily in store and then I bargained them down further because the packaging all says 8GB but I knew it was activating as 16GB so I ended getting a great deal and bought a bunch of them. I think it was about $16 each which was considered great value back then, they each came with the R208 Pocket Wifi modems too which have been amazing over the years but is 3G limited so a bit long in the tooth today. But it'll be fine for a stop gap.

      • I had my sims and the dongles refunded from Vodafone.
        Tried in store but they were totally useless - wasted an hour of my time.
        Then contacted higher up at Vodafone and no problem - they were very nice about it.

  • -1

    Vodafone will happily replace them
    They want your business

    • Hope so. I didn't get a chance to go today but will tomorrow. In the meantime I've ordered a Kogan 40GB just in case.

      I'll update this thread when I have an outcome. I don't really care either way anymore but if I can get something out of them for nothing, it's worth a bit of my time to try.

  • +1

    Trying to Activate online it says to contact Vodafone. I had 9 of these.

    Swap it!
    I've gone to a major Vodafone store with lots of staff at quiet time (not a small franchise), asked for person in charge, shown them 1 old unused pack, explained when I bought it I checked with Vodafone by phone - told it never expires.

    Takes a while, but they gave me a new equivalent SIM pack. Repeat until all swapped.

    • +1

      Thanks, I know you're right and the bargain hunter in me should, but I've since gotten a Kogan 40GB sim for them ($5) and a lesson Ive been learning a lot in the last year or 2 is valuing my time. The time I'd spend doing all that could be better justified elsewhere at the moment. 1 unit marked which only takes 5-10 minutes is $70 for example, or 14 of those Kogan sims for 5-10 minutes work.

      So I'm going to let it go. That said, I'm happy to post them to you if you wanted to give them a go? I have no further need for them. They should still be in my car.

      • Ooo… Car SIMs!
        Thanks, I'll PM you😃

        Always best to value your own time & effort. Took about 10 minutes to swap for a "$30 Starter Pack" - they activated it as well. Next time will be quicker. Haven't been back to see same staff member to ask for rest to be swapped.

        Too many free SIMs lately (Amaysim, then Cash back with Catch). About to run out of those. And have a $4.90 Kogan to activate by end of month…

  • Went to a store today, basically was told that they have always expired and they are too old.

    And told to contact the TIO

    • Yeah, they are pretty terrible about it. We win some we lose some, I just let it go.

    • How about contacting them via chat on website? I got it replaced immediately and the new SIM delivered to my address in 2 days.

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