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Mobily requiring Iqama number to recharge credit

 
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truthbebold



Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 20
PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:11 am    Post subject: Mobily requiring Iqama number to recharge credit Reply with quote
Mobily is now requiring an Iqama number when recharging phone credit. I'm not sure if this applies to STC or not yet.
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jaffa



Joined: 25 Oct 2012
Posts: 403
PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
STC too. In fact all of them.

So without iqama no phone?
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
No iqama no phone has always been the rule. Rules in KSA are sometimes forgotten about.
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truthbebold



Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 20
PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 11:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Of course, but Mobily is now enforcing it, at least in Jubail. When you enter the number from your recharge card, you are also prompted to enter your Iqama number. If you don't, it won't recharge. Taking out the middle man so to speak.
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readytotravel



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Posts: 77
PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 4:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mobily will allow you to get a sim without an iqama. However, after a period of time-perhaps a month or two-when you try to recharge it will require your iqama number which must match the one they have on file. This means that you have to go back to Mobily with your iqama and register your sim. The first time you recharge after that you must also enter your iqama number and it must match their files. It is unclear if you have to do this for subsequent recharges.
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
System used to be that you had to show Iqama to get a SIM. Then you had to let them know when you renewed your Iqama.
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truthbebold



Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 20
PostPosted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I know people who have been using SIMs for about a year now and recharging with no problems until now.
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
PostPosted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The OP seems to think the whole thing is some gross violation of his civil liberties !!!
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truthbebold



Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 20
PostPosted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
scot47 wrote:
The OP seems to think the whole thing is some gross violation of his civil liberties !!!


Yes, I was shocked to discover that Saudi doesn't put civil liberties high on their agenda. Rolling Eyes
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elamericano



Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 65
PostPosted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
So the number you enter, and that they have on file, specifically has to be for the iqama and cannot be for your passport? Hmm.

In any event, if you do have an iqama you can bypass needing to enter the number and worry about recharges in this manner by getting your account changed to postpaid. Which requires going to a Mobily shop in person and presenting the iqama, which they photocopy, then enter the number into their system and convert your account within about an hour.

Afterwards you can get set up on the Mobily website to recharge your account via credit card through the website. You can't use a credit card for that unless your account is postpaid.
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
PostPosted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 10:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
readytotravel wrote:
Mobily will allow you to get a sim without an iqama. However, after a period of time-perhaps a month or two-when you try to recharge it will require your iqama number which must match the one they have on file. This means that you have to go back to Mobily with your iqama and register your sim. The first time you recharge after that you must also enter your iqama number and it must match their files. It is unclear if you have to do this for subsequent recharges.

From my own experience so far, the iqama number needs to be entered each time the device is recharged. Anyway, this is really an issue for those here on business visit visas since they're not eligible for an iqama.
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