I've been using an Orange prepay SIM card for the last five years. Suddenly, today, the display says "Unregistered SIM" and I can make or receive no calls. On calling Orange Customer Services line I was told that I need to go into an Orange shop and register my details. As I am unlikely to be near a swiss Orange shop for more than a week, this has really incensed me. I told them this but they simply repeated their scripted mantra. What the hell are they doing ?

dave

Dave, just a guess, but all pre-pays had to be registred by a certain time last year, those un-registered are being systematically switched off. Something to do with countering drug dealers & other undesirables from just entering Die Schweiz & getting a phone.

As I said, educated guess only, but seems the likely cause for me.

Change to sunrise or Swiscom . I think you can import your old orange number to the new network.
The new regulations are forcing all operators to check ID of all accounts holders. Maybe this is the reason.

In fact, I think I will. How about a text warning me that I have 30days to comply or something ? This was completely out of the blue. The future is bright, and it ain't f'ing orange.

dave

Sorry, just had to go to SA & back to get some info :

http://www.cellular.co.za/news_2004/...on_prepaid.htm

so basically, you should have received an SMS on this some time in 2004 ?

They're obviously a bit late then...

dave

I'm with Orange and I got written notification of the need to register for pre-paid a couple of years ago.

It's a security measure that applies to all providers and as usual assumes that terrorists would give their real names and addresses when applying for a phone....

apparently the Security Services had proof that Binj Laden's lot were running around the mountains of somewhere-over-the -rainbow-astan with Swisscom prepaid mobiles, so decided to do something about it, oh & drug dealers ...
now the drug dealers just use foreign prepaid mobiles & the Polizei have to monitor all the networks, as they cannot trace the IMSIE numbers (technical high falooting reasons here, believe me) .... additional cost ?
In the region of 35-40M Chf per annum .......