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UKSIM

Pre-Purchase FAQ (Read Before Buying)

Are these real UK mobile numbers or VoIP?

All numbers are real UK mobile numbers backed by physical SIM cards.
They are not VoIP and use the standard UK mobile SMS network.

Which UK networks are used?

Numbers may come from O2, Vodafone, EE, Three UK, or Lebara.
Networks that require mandatory top-ups just to receive SMS (e.g. Giffgaff, VOXI) are not used.

Are numbers reused or recycled?

For paid plans (1 month+), you receive a brand-new number.
Once a subscription ends, access stops and the number will not be reassigned to another paid user who purchases rental plans (1 month and above). In limited cases, a SIM may be briefly repurposed for short usage (e.g. 48-hour trial service) before being retired.

How do I receive SMS messages?

All SMS messages are forwarded to your assigned email address.
This is a receive-only service — you cannot reply to messages or make calls.

Will I receive all verification / OTP messages?

Yes, if the platform sends them.

Important:

  • Platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp may block OTPs if you register using VPNs, datacenter IPs, or flagged IPs.
  • If the platform blocks the request, no SMS is sent at all (this is not a SIM issue).

Why might I miss a message?

The most common reasons are:

  • Email spam filtering or SMTP issues
  • Platform-level IP bans or risk controls (Telegram / WhatsApp especially)

The SIM behaves exactly like a normal UK SIM.

Do I need to top up the SIM?

If you wish to keep the same number for more than six months, the answer is yes.
All UK mobile networks require at least one paid top-up every six months to keep a SIM active.

You can:

  • Top up yourself via the network’s website
  • Or pay us and we’ll do it for you

This is a network requirement, not a UKSIM.cc rule.

Is RCS supported?

Standard SMS is fully supported.
RCS is not forwarded by default and is unnecessary for most verification use cases.

Can UKSIM.cc help diagnose delivery issues?

Yes. If needed, we can assist in determining whether an issue is caused by:

  • Email delivery configuration
  • Platform-side blocking or risk controls
  • Client IP/network behaviour

However, platform acceptance decisions (e.g. Telegram or WhatsApp OTP suppression) are outside our control.