bought "pay as you go" sim but trying to top up and it tells me it is not "pay as you go"

[dhd]

I bought my father a Pay-As-You-Go sim from Argos and passed it into his care home just before the lockdown so that we could stay in touch.

The phone has run out of credit so I tried to top it up on-line, however when doing so i get a message telling me it is not a Pay-As-You-Go number.  I'm unable to get in touch with O2 and Argos customer services. 

I'm stuck and my father cannot call me.  Any ideas?

[Cleoriff]

@dhd 

The first top up has to be by voucher. Once thats done you can use any method.

You can get a voucher from any corner shop of ATM.

Guide How to Top Up (PAYG) 

[jonsie]

Ways to top up here @dhd 

Guide How to Top Up (PAYG) 

[dhd]

I don't think a voucher would help tbh.

I've been onto 4444 to topup.  I enter the number and i get the message "Sorry we didn't recognise your entry as an O2 pay and go number"

it then takes my round in circles for a bit until finally telling me to contact customer services - which are unavailable.

[dhd]

I don't think a voucher would help tbh.

I've been onto 4444 to topup.  I enter the number and i get the message "Sorry we didn't recognise your entry as an O2 pay and go number"

it then takes my round in circles for a bit until finally telling me to contact customer services - which are unavailable.

[Cleoriff]

@dhd 

A voucher would help. In fact it's the ONLY way to do the first top up.

If all the systems are failing it is your only option.

I wrote the guide so took every single thing into consideration. (Except Covid19)