I'd just like to express my thanks to those of you who've patiently been responding to my questions and complaints about the way VM's SIMswap's been handled. Although your replies have mostly been negative ones relaying bad news to me about what the system can't do, I recognise that you've read and mostly understood my difficulties and you've taken the trouble to explain VM's inherent shortcomings, so thanks for that.
The problem I see with trying to arrange for someone in UK to receive another SIM on my behalf and post it on, is that it seems they'd have to open the package and activate it before forwarding it on to me in Thailand, and that presents a particular security hazard transiting the international postal sorting office and customs checking in Bangkok. Bangkok are known to be prone to opening small packages and nicking any contents for black market sale if they're of value. I've had three replacement bank debit cards nicked this way in the last two years, so I see it as a real threat. Unless perhaps there's some way you could instruct a UK forwarder of a newly-activated sim how to temporarily disable it such that it's phone number and any credit on it would be inaccessible to anyone nicking it in transit? In that case there'd have to be an unlocking code sent to me independently by email for me to be able to unlock it upon safe arrival. Would that be possible?
The problem I see with getting a refund, getting a PAC code from VM on my old number, and closing my VM account down, is how would I persuade another provider to post a new UK simcard to me in Thailand, and how could that card be activated once safely arrived? For what it's worth I'm currently guessing I'll eventually arrive back in UK mid-Spring 2022, so the times I'll be in most need of that replacement simcard will be as I land at Manchester airport , and just afterwards.
The problem I see with trying to remain with VM is that because of my overseas travelling and intermittent usage, it's a PAYG account or something similar that I'm going to need, and VM are about to cease their existing PAYG service,
I'm afraid all these issues are beyond what I as a now almost 80yr old senile with additional chemotherapy-induced cognitive and memory defects, and chronic general slowdown can cope with these days. I believe VM are still responsible for sorting out the mess their poorly planned SIMswap programme caused those customers like myself who were Covid-stranded long-term overseas at the time they were being asked to swap their sims.
So please try to escalate this whole issue of getting me back in service to someone who can take on the responsibility of VM implementing it by whatever means it takes. Once we have a feasible implementation plan, I'll be pleased to cooperate and provide information where I can but won't be able to take on the whole responsibility on my own.
By the way, I've raised an official complaint with VM using my old mobile number removed and have received complaint reference C-0309211505 while the Resolutions Team are looking at it.
+ John
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