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Need help with old cell phone puchased in Pamplona

Marbe2

Active member
Donating Member
Time of past OR future Camino
2015-2023 walked all or part of CF 11 times
We bought a simple Samsung cell phone in 2015 in Pamplona from Moviestar- model GT-E 12001
Recently, I added 10 euros of time, on-line. We are heading back to start in SJPdP end of September. Unfortunately, my sister put the wrong PIN number when she went to see if the minutes had been added. She entered the wrong PIN too many times and the phone is now blocked! We are not scheduled to stop in Pamplona until walking there from St Jean...and we will not likely have sufficient time in Madrid to seek assistance as our connections are too tight. So ,I was wondering if any of you folks might know how to unblock a phone? Is there a way to do it yourself. I know the PIN number. If not, I will leave the phone home.
Thanks.
 
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I think you have to speak to the provider and give them the IMEI number printed on the phone . Or maybe I've dreamt it...
 
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I did something similar....

My Wife and I had identical phones. I picked hers up (by mistake) and put in my PIN#, twice. It didn't work. I got the paper and checked. That was the right number (still the wrong phone) so I put in the number a couple times more.
That was it. LOCKED!

Two days later, we were in Burgos and went to a Orange Dealer/Outlet. I had to show them my passport and they fixed it. Took 5 minutes. No big deal.
 
It's not about the wrong PIN number.
Spanish pre-paid SIM cards are valid (and are working) one year after last top-up. Then the SIM and the number is locked/deleted.
You can throw it away and get a new one.
 
Well

As I said, we will not have time to get the phone unlocked at a dealers in Madrid or In Pamplona. Does anyone know if there is a moviestar store in St. Jean...and would they help with a Spanish phone? Or, does anyone else have suggestion as to how to get this phone unblocked?
 
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we used the phone in 2018 already this past March and put 10 euros on it last week.
 
carry it with you til you get to a town with a Movistar store. They can deal with it. I think your first opportunity will be in Arre, just east of Pamplona, or in Pamplona itself, once you walk into there.
 
Rebekah Scott said:
carry it with you til you get to a town with a Movistar store. They can deal with it. I think your first opportunity will be in Arre, just east of Pamplona, or in Pamplona itself, once you walk into there.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I was hoping we could resolve the phone issue before we leave St Jean..in case of emergency.
 
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If I remember correctly, this is when the PUK number comes in handy. It is also printed on the card that the SIM came in. How to use it depends on the device, but there should be a menu item for unBLOCKing SIM.
 
wisepilgrim said:
If I remember correctly, this is when the PUK number comes in handy. It is also printed on the card that the SIM came in. How to use it depends on the device, but there should be a menu item for unBLOCKing SIM.
Click to expand...

We can’t get to menu..as phone is blocked from opening.
 
Marbe2 said:
We can’t get to menu..as phone is blocked from opening.
Click to expand...
You might be confusing the phone unlock code with the SIM unlock code. They are mutually exclusive, and all phones should be unlockable (to browse the menu, contacts, etc) without unlocking the SIM (for calling, browsing contacts stored on the SIM card, web browsing, etc.).
 
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Marbe2 said:
Thanks, I was hoping we could resolve the phone issue before we leave St Jean..in case of emergency.
Click to expand...
To my recollections there are no phone shops between SJPdP and Pamplona.
 
If I buy a SIM card at Dublin airport in transit....and they set it up in my Iphone8 + with no data will it work in France and to Pamplona where I could the buy another SIM card with phone and data? If so is there a place in transit where I can purchase a sim card and what should I get?
 
There's also a PUK number (on your "card") in case you put in PIN wrongly more than three times.
 
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Marbe2 said:
Thanks, I was hoping we could resolve the phone issue before we leave St Jean..in case of emergency.
Click to expand...
If you can't get it resolved before you leave St Jean, there will be many others walking with or near you, and in the event of a true emergency, I'm pretty sure you'll find someone who will either make a call for you or let you use their phone for an emergency call. The Camino provides.
 
We tend to leave very early in the morning....but, of course, I have no doubt other pilgrims would call and help Us!
 
You could get a SIM in Dublin and preload it with €20-30. With European roaming laws you can use it in Spain no issues.
 
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