Can’t receive calls or SMS

Lebara has been useless, I’ve been unable to receive calls and SMS for over 5 days. I’ve reported the issue numerous times and then they said they’d call me today. I gave them my landline number because obviously I can’t receive calls and what do they do? They call my mobile which isn’t receiving calls! Somehow they managed to get a service SMS message to me saying they’d tried to call.
Is there anyone on here that can advise? I just got a Lebara ESIM and it’s not been right from the start.

Sorry to hear that you've been having issues with the account ItsFobbo. I'll drop you a message to grab some details so we can look into this for you.

Same boat. Done the portin from O2 last Wednesday, can call out & send text messages but unable to receive either. I have,however,had a couple of general texts from Lebara (38885) It does work fully with WhatsApp ie send receive calls & texts,5G data,but mainly 4G is also fine,WiFi is no problem. Just can’t receive incoming calls and text messages.

It does work over WiFi for iMessage in regards texts, but when I send one it defaults to using my iCloud email address ie someone sends a text in iMessage,I receive it but when I reply they get a reply from my iCloud email address. Now,in settings for that,there is no tick to use my number to reply as it’s been verifying for a week and doesn’t do anything. So it will default to an email address,I understand that. I’ve been on several times in Lebara chat but have got absolutely nowhere this past week.Suggestions have included try another handset,Lebara have done tweaks on my line and for me to restart and give it 30 minutes and it will work,sign in and out of Apple,SIM card in and out,restart etc It’s been an absolute joke. Where I’m up to now,is I’m awaiting an email as to regards what’s happening and how it’s being fixed,just been told that takes 48-72 hours WTF This now takes it in to the 3rd week. I’m snookered as I can’t even get a PAC code to leave. Shambolic service.

Someone give a clue,as this is just not acceptable in 2026

Something is currently happening with my number as I now have no signal and in the Lebara app it tells me my number is incorrect, crazy nuts this

Update :
My number has just reverted back to the physical SIM card number I received from Lebara on 4th February. Everything works as you’d expect it to. They are doing the portin again and I have just been told it will work on my original number I wish to keep on 16th February. So basically starting from scratch. At this point,I can only accept what I’ve been told. As it’s been 10 days from the start,I’m dubious but here’s hoping. Surely the portin can’t go wrong twice?

This doesn’t give me much faith in transferring my mobile number.

please 🙏 confirm that the issues have all been resolved

Not resolved,I have until Monday 16th February. If that doesn’t work I’ll seek elsewhere,try going back to O2 as I presume my number with them (the one I wish to keep) is still valid for a month from the date I requested the PAC code,which will be 6th March.

The SIM card I currently have in my phone is a replacement one with my number I wish to keep. I saw my phone drop the signal, and the number changed before my eyes in the Lebara app from the number I want to keep (02) to the number they provided (Lebara) They done portin effectively in reverse. It works great,as you want it to. I’ve been informed that the portin from (02) is being done again and it will all work swimmingly by 16th. It takes away the theory of my iPhone being the problem,as it works with a Lebara number. I’m only asking to keep my original number I’ve had for the last 17 years and it’s going Pete Tong for some reason. It’s a portin problem from O2,has to be.No other reason. It could just be one of those things that happens. But if they can do it in reverse then there’s no reason why they can’t do it the way I want it and the way it should be done. Frustrating doesn’t even begin to cover my feelings at the minute.

I’ve done a few sim swaps in the past,and continued with the original number,they’ve all been with O2 btw I’ve been with them since June 2009
But what I have done though,is got the PAC code for this (temporary) Lebara number,which is what I want changing to my original number

Update :
Just had a phone call from Lebara call centre with a London phone number asking why I’m leaving as I’ve requested the PAC code! So I go through the situation,bottom line is I’ve now verbally been assured the portin will work,and will happen anytime between 8am & midnight Monday 16th. And I will receive a call to tell me it’s worked. So frustrating
They called this temporary Lebara number I want changing,so it proves the phone works.

Gary.

please keep me informed. I have been with o2 for so long I can’t remember.

I'm am feed up with mid contract increases. My contract is going from £9.80 to £12.30 That is a massive increase. I believe in walking if you aren’t happy. I also have AirTime rewards which is one of the reasons I have stayed with o2 for so long. But it’s a £25 annual increase which is more that I get back on airtime over the year.

if you continue to have problems I will look at talk mobile.

good luck today
mariof

I’m currently having the same issue, called multi times and just told ‘it will be fixed’ is there no clear way to see the status of what’s going on, finding customer service very unhelpful.
currently unable to request repeat prescriptions and also expecting phone calls regarding job interviews so REALLY not ideal right now!

Mariof
The reason for looking around is exactly as you say,in contract price rises. Current deal I took out in September 2024 for £6.99p fine,got it down from £8.28p (that only included 500MB data,the £6.99p one gave me 6GB data) Went up April 2025 to £8.79p, still ok, was still to me acceptable. But in April 2026 it’s rising by £2.50p to £11.29p,an overall increase in just over 18 months of £4.30p. And personally that’s just crazy. I think when it reaches the over £10.00p per month threshold for what I’d term ‘a basic tariff’ then it needs to be looked at. The market is flooded with far better deals than I/you currently have.

Now,are O2 such a massive company that they can just say ‘balls to you’ if you go elsewhere after being with them for 17 years? Not a phone call to ask if they can offer or match or come to a compromise and do a deal? I was with Talk Talk prior, when I got the PAC code to move to O2 to get the iPhone 3, I had a few calls asking why I was leaving,is there anything we can do etc The answer from me was if you did the iPhone I’d stay,as their customer service was brilliant. But at the time the only carrier doing the iPhone in UK was O2, so that’s where I went. Had a few bundle changes, and sim swaps with no bother at all (maybe it was because it was the same network) Not experienced anything like this before. I may have just touched unlucky, and it’s a case of well every now and again this happens, but to be told different criteria the last 10 days of doing things my end and Lebara doing things their end and try another handset and a new SIM card and it will work is nuts. I’ve helped family members change networks a few times with no clitches, so I know from that and my own experiences it does work (portin your number)
After the last 10 days, I have to be on the sceptical side of the will it or will it not work scenario. I can only go on the last advice of it will be done to my number I require and have had (probably when I think of now maybe 20 years) from 8am to midnight on Monday. Fingers crossed

Xxvitth
Damn,that’s not good re repeat prescriptions & job interviews. I’m sorry this is happening to you also. In business, if you tell 1 person a good or negative story about a service that then manifests its way down to at least 20 people in the chain, good or bad. And in retrospect, you do get what you pay for, so if you’re wanting a cheap deal then a cheap/poor customer service is tagged on perhaps. If a mod allows me to post the phone number I got the call from last night I’ll put it up. Maybe that’s another avenue for you to take to resolve your own issue

Movement at 7.30am this morning. Signal dropped,Lebara disappeared off my screen,number reverted back to my original that I want from O2. That even shows up in Lebara app. Did it work? Not a chance, can’t even call the Lebara number provided on the SIM card when I placed the order 4th February. This is beyond bad, this is just effing ridiculous. I text out, not receive. I call out, ‘it’s impossible to connect you’ so can’t receive. Back to square one, it’s dead in the water. This is not going to be a good outcome.
Phoning the Lebara number ‘you’ve dialled an incorrect number’
Phoning my original number I wish to keep ‘ it’s not been possible to connect your call’

Martin can you do something / anything about this please, I’m at my wits end now. I’ve also PM’d you

I’ve sussed it of a fashion, a lot of shenanigans and changing numbers here there and everywhere in apps Problem I have now is FaceTime & iMessage settings is not verifying my number. Oh the joys🤣

Still having issues myself, keep getting texts saying they are gonna call me then another said they tried to call, 5 times this has happened. I told them I can’t receive calls and given them an alternate number. Absolutely useless customer service. 2 weeks without the ability to receive calls or texts.

I thought there might be some sort assistance here but almost got scammed by someone pretending to be Lebara, no sign of actual help from Lebara staff!