cheeky chops

on the 1st october i registered my english mobile in turkcell extra in bodrum no problems all went well and only took around 15 minutes to say none of the staff spoke english we thought that was good going

later in our stay we were told that the kontors would last 3 months and told that they can be added on in the uk if we purchased extra kontor cards for our return back to uk which we did

when returning i decided to try the mobile in the uk and it did not work i was only able to make emergency calls .
i read then on turkcells website that you need to activate roaming by dialing a number from your mobile while in turkey, so i decided to contact turkcell customer services for help, they activated the service immediately and asked if they could help in any other way.

i asked about the 3 months and was told it was correct but you are unable to use the kontor card direct from your mobile. you have to dial turkcell customer services and they install them, also what i thought was good is if you dont have a spare kontor card you can dial another number and have them added by credit card payment ,

but this is where i need help

we were going back in early 08 and are now no longer able to so are not back now till later than 3 months we can top credit as we allready know but how long do you get if you dont top up untill you loose your number .

i have tried to speak to the customer services dept in turkey but unfortunately for me the lady who helped last time has never answered and although the other staff speak english better than i speak turkish they didnt fully undertand the question

i have heard if there are no kontors added and the mobile is left for 6 months then you loose your number and have to re -register.

any one who KNOWS let me know as rumours are quick coming but no good to rely on.

good job i use budgetcom then phoning turkey only costs 1p per minute

any answers
thanks
cheeky chops


the last post on this tread is an update on how to top up online from uk

chelsea boy

6 months and no top up... sim cancelled. If you ring Turkcell ask for someone who speaks English.

kuskaz

could someone tell me what happens if you use your phone and not top up for 6 months, cos i am looking after my friends mobile and switch it on and use it quickly for a while, sometimes i keep it on for a while will it get switched off if i dont top it up?

friar tuck

Just switching it on is no good you must either make a call or send a text to keep it active.

kuskaz

I do that, i ring my phone and answer for a few secs then then use my phone to call it for a few secs have also text a few times, will this be ok?

biggles

to top up in uk [if you have brought a scratch card from turkey ] do star123 star put in card scratch num . then hash then yes ......to check how many kontors on card do star 123 hash press yes . i bring back a scratch card and just under 6 months later [if not returning to turkey before ] i put the kontors on in the uk therefore saving losing my num. and yes so long as you make a call in turkey within 6 months on a uk mobile then you will safeguard the num, but i do believe you still have to top up before the 6 months is up even if you make a call . although i can top up in the uk with my turkcell nokia ,i cant make any calls from it . it only allows me to check the kontors and top up which is all you need to do in order to not lose the number.

cheeky chops

thanks biggles

on the info i have and on the scratch card it says

* 122 * scratched off number #

not
* 123 *

is this a different number as you are in uk or did you make a mistake
i am going to attempt to get customer services again
i will let you all know the outcome


thanks

biggles

no ,i do 123 not 122 try it and see ,you will know if it works as it will come up units added ok , if it dont then try 123 and see what happens , i have only ever done 123 and mine tops up fine .

cheeky chops

hi all interested

i have talked to turkcell again and got a person who understood english very well

as it stands from the day of registration you are given 90 days to top up kontors

if you dont top up in 90 days you are blocked from MAKING a phonecall but still able to receive calls

if you still dont top up you are not able to receive either so you have from the day of registration 210 days untill your phone is shutdown and you have to re register

so basically from the day you add kontors you have 210 days including the day they were added before you loose your number.

i was told you are able to add with a kontor card from uk but told
*122* --------------- # yes
(scratched off no)

but biggles uses
*123*--------------# yes i was told this was to see how many kontors are left so i am still not clear on this.

but if you dont have a kontor scratch card you can renew kontors by bank card but it must be turkish bank card .
so realy if you put 100 kontors on 14 .50 ytl (£6) twice ayear its still cheaper than using a uk mobile when in turkey

thanks biggles for your help