Why does my Tmobil cell phone say "emergency calls only" when I try to make a call?

Question

there's good coverage, the bill is paid, etc. but there's a slash through the phone icon on the screen

Answer 1

As you've already seen in other's answers, it has to do with the signal. Turn the phone off, count to 5, then turn it back on. It should find the nearest tower for a signal. A bad SIM card won't do this either like one person said. He/she was lied to at the store or by Customer Service. I used to work for AT&T Wireless & this Emergency Only issue was a big one. A bad SIM card won't allow you to place or receive calls or text messages. T-Mobile runs on the GSM network like Cingular/AT&T does. Just remember to turn the phone off for 5 seconds, then turn it back on.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

Phone Says Emergency Calls Only

Answer 5

Your phone may have automatically switched to another carrier because you may have been in a poor/no coverage area. The other network will permit emergency calls only. Try and select the TMobile Network manually. If this does not work and if the issue is not a coverage issue then the problem most likely is associated with the Phone/SIM. Try testing the SIM in another phone (has to be with the same service provider) and vice versa. The only other reason why this may happen is if you were playing with the settings of the phone. You may require a PUK code that should be able to be provided by your service provider, but that is a stretch in this case. You should contact your service provider before doing anything to the phone, sometimes it can be as easy as the service provider refreshing the network on their end to your phone. The other thing is that their may be a service interuption in your area, contact your service provider to be certain.

Answer 6

I get that too. It usually happens in the same place in my apartment. There is good coverage where I am as well; something in the specific area you are in must be blocking the signal at that point. Who knows, maybe the wind is blowing the wrong way. It's terribly frustrating, and, unfortunately, I don't think there's anything you can do about it; when I asked the customer service lady the same question, she just recommended turning the phone off and on again. Sometimes that works for me, sometimes it doesn't. I feel your pain, baby.

Mine is actually a black RAZR which is a Cingular phone (I got it at a kiosk rather than a dedicated T-Mobile store). I don't know if that has anything to do with it. My screen also says "Cingular" instead of T-Mobile, unless I am in Arizona, then it says "T-Mobile." Weird.

Answer 7

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why does my Tmobil cell phone say "emergency calls only" when I try to make a call?
there's good coverage, the bill is paid, etc. but there's a slash through the phone icon on the screen

Answer 8

Either you're in an area where there's little/no signal, or you didn't pay yoru bill, lol. Usually when it says emergency calls only, it's because of signal. if you're in an area where you know you have signal usually, restart your phone and it should restore. if the problem continues, contact tmobile customer service, they're usually pretty good. (we use tmobile)

Answer 9

You may have coverage but perhaps not for the T-Mobile network. Make sure T-Mobile is selected as your network.

Also call Customer Service next time you have a problem - if you can't reach them on your cell, it's a toll free call, use a pay phone or something else.

Answer 10

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