Polish Pay As You Go Phone SIMs - do all have compulsory recharging / top up?

Hello all

Do all the PAYG SIMs in Poland require the SIM card user to put money into the account every x number of days or else the phone no longer allows outgoing calls or SMS/texts, even if there is a credit balance?

I have a Heyah SIM on PAYG, I didn't use all my credit up, and despite having enough credit still in the account to phone or text, Heyah it seems will only let me use that credit if I now make an additional top up (recharge) of money to the SIM.

Having had a quick look at the Plus and Orange websites, looks like they do the same in Poland.

In the UK, most of the networks don't expect you to top up every month or whatever, they just ask that you make a call every 90 days or 6 months (depends on the network). Provided you do that you can use whatever credit is in the account, even if you haven't topped up for some time.

Is there a Polish SIM that works on those lines?

Thanks.

PS Anyone know how you turn off the recorded promotional message that speaks/plays over the ringing tone when someone dials a Heyah telephone number? People ringing me from the UK find that confusing & hang up when they hear the voice and the ringing tone.

As far as I know there is not.

There's nothing like the same amount of competition on the Polish telecoms market as there is in the UK, so companies tend to bend their customers over somewhat.

I looked into this a while ago and was not able to find a cell provider that operates like that - don't think this feature is offered in PL.

Thank you Harry, and Bolle. I much appreciate the very fast replies.

BTW, someone I know says "wRodzinie" (a network I assume) doesn't expect regular top ups. Now, I've no idea if that's true or not, but if anyone wants to read their Polish website and confirm it's true and if it's a good deal for PL consumers, please do... thanks.

Play offers a year's validity of credit, which is about as good as it gets here.

Thanks delphiandomine, will look into that one too.

I have looked into the wR SIM - it seems 20 zl buys a SIM and it doesn't need a recharge or top up for 12 months if you don't use the 20 zl. I am not allowed to post a link but if you google it then you should see. The card is it seems something to do with Era as the phone says wR and Era on it when that SIM is in.

I have gone on to Play for my SIM now. The outgoing calls from Play are competitively priced.

However, someone has told me it costs more to call a Play number than for example an Orange, or Era, etc etc. If that's correct, how much more typically (in percentage approx?).

Thanks if anyone knows.

It's about 20gr more per minute.

Thanks Delphianddopamine, notso much extra then, oh dear... I have been advised by a certain person they won't phone me now because "it's so expensive to call [me] on Play".

I wouldn't mind but they only call me about once a week and just for 5 minutes, if that! Sigh, I'm not worth 20gr extra a minute :o(

Looks like the 5 zl SIM from Play has to be used in 10 days, so the 1 year validity if that's the case does not apply to the 5 zl credit with the SIM...? Looks like that. Better off with the other card from wR then.

prepaidgsm.net/en/polonia/play.html
and Costs
Messaging National SMS: PLN 0.09 - € 0.02
International SMS: PLN 0.50 - € 0.11
National MMS and MMS to e-mail: PLN 0.19 - € 0.04
International MMS: 3.00 PLN - € 0.67
Data Calls UMTS/GPRS: PLN 0.12/100KB - € 0.027/100KB
Browsing wap.playmobile.pl is free (some items of its contents are paid extra)
Voice Mail free of charge (dial *200 or 790200200)
Billing National Calls: 1/1
International Calls & Roaming: 30/30
Refills validity PLN 10-24, 10+90 days
PLN 25-49, 30+90 days
PLN 50-99, 90+90 days
PLN 100-300, 90+90 days
Basically, top-ups are available in the "electronic form" only i.e. from terminals/ATMs/online.
Scratch cards are available in the nominal of PLN 30 only.
These "regular" top-ups are added to the main credit "Pakiet złotówek" ("Packet of zlotys")

Yes, but the first recharge will last for a year.

First recharge and all the next recharges too. I also use the services of Play.

I use plus and i'm quite happy with it. Play is only good because your account stays valid for 1 yr.