I am temporarily living abroad, but am a current US T-Mobile pay as you go customer with a US address, credit card, home, etc. I recently lost my phone, so I called T-Mobile and had the account blocked. The representative told me that my number and balance would be "reserved" for 30 days only, and that I would have to order a new SIM, which I could activate online and transfer my old number and balance onto.
1. Is that true?
However, when I try to order a new pay as you go SIM on the T-Mobile Shop (using my US information, including a US delivery address which is the same as my US credit card address), I always get the error message:
"Unfortunately, your information could not be verified and your oder cannot be completed. Please visit a T-Mobile authorized dealer to obtain service or equipment."
My credit card provider has confirmed that they had approved several charge attempts, so the problem is apparently on the T-Mobile side. As mentioned above, I am not currently in the USA, so I cannot physically visit a T-Mobile (USA) store.
2. What is the "information verification" problem, then? I am an existing T-Mobile customer, using a delivery address that matches the credit card I am attempting to use. Is there any way to get past this? VPN?
3. Assuming there is no way for me to order a replacement SIM for delivery anywhere in the world, can I ask a friend to visit a T-Mobile store on my behalf? Whose details would be associated with the replacement SIM? I want to use my current telephone number, and I would like to have the SIM associated with me, not someone else. But, if that's the only way to keep my number I guess I will have to do it.
4. How about buying an unactivated SIM on eBay? Could I activate such a SIM from here (I am in the UK) and have my current number?
The 30-day clock is ticking, so any help would be appreciated.
J