How best to get a smaller SIM

Osem · 20-02-2016, 18:30

Mrs Osem is determined to get a shiny new dual SIM phone but has noticed that most seem to be equipped with at least one but usually 2 micro SIMs. Currently she has 2 mini-SIMs in her phone (on old Virgin tariffs she wishes to retain) so she's hoping Virgin will be willing to replace one or both with micro sized versions so she keeps her numbers and tariffs.

If this is possible:

a) how much will it cost?
b) can we minimise any downtime by ordering the new SIM(s) and activating them on arrival rather than having to have the old SIM(s) deactivated whilst we wait for the new one(s) to arrive?
c) what is the activation process and how long does it take?

I know SIM cutters are available but I'd probably only be wanting to go down that route as a last resort and the contact area on one of the SIMs is too big to cut down anyway.

TIA as always.

Ken W · 20-02-2016, 18:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

Mrs Osem is determined to get a shiny new dual SIM phone but has noticed that most seem to be equipped with at least one but usually 2 micro SIMs. Currently she has 2 mini-SIMs in her phone (on old Virgin tariffs she wishes to retain) so she's hoping Virgin will be willing to replace one or both with micro sized versions so she keeps her numbers and tariffs.

If this is possible:

a) how much will it cost?
b) can we minimise any downtime by ordering the new SIM(s) and activating them on arrival rather than having to have the old SIM(s) deactivated whilst we wait for the new one(s) to arrive?
c) what is the activation process and how long does it take?

I know SIM cutters are available but I'd probably only be wanting to go down that route as a last resort and the contact area on one of the SIMs is too big to cut down anyway.

TIA as always.

When I changed my phone which had the standard size sim I phone Virgin mobile and the sent out as micro sim FOC with my same number using normal Royal Mail extra if I wanted in the next day, I choose royal mail and it arrived in 2 days

SnoopZ · 20-02-2016, 18:58

I went into the EE shop and changed a microsim to a nano sim over the counter, it was free apart from a £10 topup i had to put on it, can you not do that with a Virgin sim somewhere?

pip08456 · 20-02-2016, 19:59

I went into the local (non-branded) phone shop and he had a tool to cut the standard sim into mini SIM. No charge.

Osem · 21-02-2016, 15:25

Cheers guys.

You can't change SIMs at Virgin stores apparently and I'd rather not risk using a cutter and having problems. If we could get a new SIM quickly and activate it on arrival rather than having to deactivate her SIM first and wait days possibly for a replacement I think we'd go for that option.

Stephen · 21-02-2016, 21:21

All SIMs now can be mini, micro or nano depending on which bit you push out.

Simply call and ask for one and they will post it out.

When it arrives you send a text from your existing SIM to a number and it then deactivates the old SIM and starts the new one.

rhyds · 21-02-2016, 21:54

I had a similar issue with my dad's vodafone sim, which was so old the gold contact area of the sim was larger than the size of the mirco sim. Some careful cutting with scissors got it to just about fit in his new handset.

Osem · 22-02-2016, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

All SIMs now can be mini, micro or nano depending on which bit you push out.

Simply call and ask for one and they will post it out.

When it arrives you send a text from your existing SIM to a number and it then deactivates the old SIM and starts the new one.

That sounds easy enough for even me.

The wife has a '3' nano SIM in a mini-sized adaptor but all our Virgin SIMs are the mini size and I really don't want to cut any of them down and risk days without a service whilst waiting for the replacement.

@ Rhyds - Having checked the 8 Virgin SIMs we have, only one has the much larger contact area which appears too large to cut down to micro-size.

pip08456 · 22-02-2016, 18:55

I wasn't on about you cutting anything, I was referring to the local shop which has a cutting tool designed especially for the job.

Osem · 22-02-2016, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by pip08456

I wasn't on about you cutting anything, I was referring to the local shop which has a cutting tool designed especially for the job.

Yes I know. You can also buy these SIM cutters online but they can be a bit hit and miss, hence my reluctance to do it if it isn't necessary. If the SIM gets damaged, whether by me or by a shop, we still have the same problem of being unable to wait for a replacement and that's what I want to avoid.

**Paul** · 22-02-2016, 19:51

Just ring up and ask for one, I did that for all three of my daughters when they got new phones at xmas.
They all switched over just fine on xmas day (you can do this by text, or your online mobile account).

Osem · 22-02-2016, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul M

Just ring up and ask for one, I did that for all three of my daughters when they got new phones at xmas.
They all switched over just fine on xmas day (you can do this by text, or your online mobile account).

Yes, that's what we'll do. I don't have an online mobile account so will use the text service.

gus0898uk · 30-03-2016, 10:33

Thanks for the posts on here regarding Sims, I am thinking of changing from my Moto G 2nd edition to the Vodafone smart Ultra 6, as i understand it, I will need to change from a Micro sim to a Nano one.