2FA and expired sim

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › 2FA and expired sim

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quickymart

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#2792460 9-Oct-2021 21:46

Linux:

quickymart:

When was the number last topped up? If it was 2 years ago (if I read your post correctly) it will be long gone.

@quickymart If the number is not in use or allocated to another Prepay SIM pack then it should be no issue cause it is just a mobile# in a db at the end of the day

Ah I was thinking of the other thread where the guy didn't top up his number after 18 months and lost it, but then I remembered someone else had taken over the number after him. As you were :)

BarTender

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#2792497 9-Oct-2021 23:04

I personally have a fairly low level of sympathy for the OP. If you're using SMS 2FA then you REALLY need to make sure that you keep the factor active. That's why I have a reminder in my calendar 20 days, 10 days, 2 days and the day before the credit expires to remind me to topup and I shift them out every year.

With GMail and other mail platforms you have recovery codes, recovery email, using TOTP/Google Authenticator to name a few. They also block accounts if you haven't logged in for a while on a new device, so sometimes you need to wait 24 hours or longer before attempting again.

If it's a 027 number you might have more joy with Spark (rather than Skinny) even though they are "both Spark" the Skinny stack is managed completely separately from Spark Mobile. As it would have been a port from Spark -> Skinny then the number will eventually return back to Spark and recycled back into the pool.

The process with ported numbers when they are abandoned is somewhat different to on-carrier numbers. Normally they are supposed to be held for 30 days (from memory) then returned to the home provider (027 for Spark, 021 for Vodafone, 022 for 2D and 0204 for Skinny) but it was always pretty hit and miss how often the cleanup would be run.

If you had a new Sim on Skinny you may be able to port it to a new account on Skinny using the port-in feature on the Skinny Portal if you know the IMSI of the Sim Card, but that may also not work as the number will have been relinquished / disconnected.

If you know someone with access to IPMS they could check out the status of the number and see if it is still with Skinny or has been returned to Donor.

Otherwise keep on contacting Skinny and plead with another CSR, as someone may be more friendly and listen to your plight and want to help.

quickymart

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#2792507 9-Oct-2021 23:06

Are Skinny still active on here?

gajan

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#2792617 10-Oct-2021 08:53

@Linux pointed me at this - if the OP can DM me as well with a few more details, I'll take a look with some of the Skinny folk tomorrow, and see if anything can be done.

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freitasm

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#2792633 10-Oct-2021 09:55

I think getting access to the number after expiration would be a security risk. What if someone was trying to take over an account using SMS authentication by trying to get their hands on a phone number previously used by the owner of a target account?

When using SMS authentication account owners should make every effort to ensure the SIM remains valid and the account is in good standing.

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Linux

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#2792639 10-Oct-2021 10:22

The OP is going to provide the original SIM card# that was linked to the MSISDN

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