If you dislike contracts, credit checks and commitments, then Motorola's "TracFone" service might be an attractive cell phone service option for you. Using the service involves two types of cards: the "SIM" card you insert into your TracFone to store contacts and transmit data to the service tower, and the "air time" cards you use to refill your talk and text time. If either of these cards is not working, don't panic -- the likely solution is only moments away.
Instructions
1. Activate your phone if you insert the SIM card into it and receive the error message, "SIM card registration failed." Although you must have your SIM inserted into your phone to use the service, doing so does not activate your account in and of itself. Activate the phone online by clicking the first link listed under "Resources."
2. Check your SIM card to make sure it's inserted properly. A quick way to do this is to be on the lookout for a "No SIM inserted" message. If you receive this message but have placed a SIM into your phone, chances are it's in backwards, which means your phone can't read its information.
3. Purchase a cell phone directly from TracFone -- or unlock your existing phone so that you can use it with any carrier , which entails taking it to a cell phone repair specialist, who will reprogram it to work with any carrier -- before attempting to use a TracFone SIM card. For example, if you have a T-Mobile Motorola V60i, you cannot use it with a TracFone SIM card you purchased at a retail location unless you've had it unlocked, despite the fact that TracFone's website lists it as a compatible handset.
4. Make sure you haven't previously used an airtime refill card -- and that it's not expired -- if attempts to refill your airtime fail. If you are unsure as to whether you've used a particular airtime card before or whether it is still good, call TracFone customer service at 1-800-867-7183. According to TracFone's website, it issues airtime cards with validities of 45, 90 and 365 days. Therefore, if it's May 1 and you are attempting to use a card labeled "45 day" that you remember purchasing in January, you will not be able to use it.
5. Check the "PIN" number on your mobile refill card to make sure you're entering it correctly. As the amount of minutes you can add -- and the valid period for those minutes -- is directly linked to this value, entering it incorrectly will prevent you from topping up your account.
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