mjdell

Hi there

I bought a Turkcell SIM card to use in my UK handset, and everything worked fine for about 2 weeks. When I bought the SIM I had to provide my passport and the IMEI number for the handset - I thought that this would register the phone.

Then it just stopped working - everyone I've spoken to agrees that this is because the handset is unregistered, but I get a different story about how I can sort this out each time I ask.

So far, I've been told the following:

1. I can't register the handset because the registration system has been broken in the Mugla area for the last 3 weeks, and no-one knows when it will be sorted out. This was in the Turkcell shop in Mugla.
2. I should be able to register the handset in the Turkcell shop in Mugla - this was from Turkcell customer services, who didn't believe I'd been told the system wasn't working.
3. I can't register the handset because I didn't declare it to Customs when I brought it into the country, even though I intend to take it home with me when I go in 3 weeks. This was from the Turkcell shop in Mugla again - I asked a friend to ring since I wasn't sure I'd understood the first time around.

Can anyone tell me if this is a lost cause, or whether I should be able to register the handset without declaring it to Customs at the airport, or if I should give up for this trip, but then try again next time I come in September and declare the phone at Customs that time?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mike

no-nem

You can buy a phone all up and running for 80--100ytl. I wouldn't bother messing about with all the reg. stuff.

mavi

typical of lots of different stories here..

in my recent experience, you dont register it at customs anymore..

we came to Bodrum airport in April 07 and went to customs to register phone. they told us it was to be registered in Aydin.

We went to Aydin to register the 2 phones with our documents...my husbands was unblocked within a week, mine is still blocked though registered at the same time as husbands...

we went to Aydin yesterday to find out why, they said I have to take all paper work and do it again...

My sons phone (we didnt register this in aydin..) was 'network locked', we took to a local phone shop, it is now unlocked and for about £5 to do it...
that was over a month ago, its still unlocked..

I think I will do this with my own phone rather than the hassle of going to Aydin again..

Sunflower

Is this registering phones a new thing? Just I gave my old phone to my father in law and he has never had any problems with it locking etc - this was early 2006.

Andywebb

As no-nem says for all the hassle and the cost of a cheap mobile Turkish registered you are better buying local in Turkey. I went through the same problem in Alanya. After reading some posts here I went with my European phone produced my passport ect at Telsim (now Vodafone) put it in my phone and within 5 minutes I was cut off. I should have registered the phone also, you need to produce the original invoice for the phone to show that it is not stolen. I did not have mine so just bought a cheap phone and put the chip and all is OK now. But remember with Vodafone if you do not use the phone within 6 months the chip dies and you have to get another chip and number. I beleive some of the others you can keep going on line or re-activate when back in Turkey.

Andy

Montemaranne

Are you sure it's 6 months Andy. We got a Turkish phone at the end of April. When we were back at the end of June and checked the Kontors, the Vodafone message was something like: You have 23 days of active stage left. We topped up the Kontors and hey presto, we had about 3 months again. Since roaming still is not enabled on our phone, we can only top it up in Turkey to keep the chip alive. I would appreciate any advice on this.
Anne

andy chapman

This may help sort a few things out.

http://www.turkishliving.com/forums...g-my-phone.html

Montemaranne

Thanks Andy

biggles

just buy a cheap turkish phone in a big turkcell shop[ 1 by marks & spencer ,bodrum 90 ytl . you have to take passport and you will then take out a contract with turkcell[ no cost ] that will enable you to register up to 3 uk phones that have previously been blocked[ but you must have the phones with you as they register the emei nums. no matter what you do unless you buy a turkish mobile and do as they say [take a contract] eventually your uk phone will be blocked. once i did as i9 have said the 3 uk phones i produced at turcell bodrum all became unblocked and i can top them up in the uk as they still work in the uk where previously they did not.also they will give you a code which will enable you to top up on line in the uk.