Gringoes.com: TIM SIM card CPF message

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knowbot
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Joined: 29 August 2009
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Topic: TIM SIM card CPF message
Posted: 29 August 2009 at 13:53

Hi,

I have an extremely annoying problem. I am in Sao Paulo on a business trip and don't really understand much Portugese. I managed to obtain a TIM SIM card for my mobile phone and it works fine for receiving calls.

Unfortunately every time I try to make a call I am getting an extremely long message in Portugese that I can't understand. I think this is about the CPF and needing to enter one.

Well of course I don't have one, don't plan on getting one, and even if I wanted one it would take weeks, during which time I would still be unable to make a call.

So I'm wondering first of all is there somewhere a translation of this long-winded message available?

Second of all can I just enter my passport number somehow? If only I knew what it was asking maybe I could just enter the magic codes.

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Segundavida
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Joined: 23 January 2009
Location: Brazil
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Posted: 29 August 2009 at 14:55

Indeed you will have to input a CPF number to activate the SIM card.Do you have a friend with a CPF number that you can use?If not you can go to the TIM store and they may be willing to activate your SIM for you or you can find a store that sells Cell phones and or unlocks them and for a small fee they will use one of their CPF numbers to activate it.There is now a law in effect which requires every SIM card to have a CPF associated with it so I know of no other solution.Good luck.

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knowbot
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Posted: 29 August 2009 at 15:01

I can google "gerador de CPF" easily enough. But figuring out the message itself is the problem.

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Segundavida
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Posted: 29 August 2009 at 15:12

That is a clever solution and should work.Listen to the message and when you hear "Digitar CPF(Sounds like: say pay f e) then input the number you have generated from the website.Interesting approach and educational as well Smile

if you still cannot make out the message go downstairs to the receptionist at your hotel and ask her/him to do it for you.

Edited by Segundavida - 29 August 2009 at 15:17

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MovingSoon
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Joined: 21 January 2007
Location: Brazil
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Posted: 29 August 2009 at 15:54

Here is Tim's English phone number:

11 2847 6144

When someone answers, ask for an English speaking person. This is there international number and I use it all the time with my account.

Edited by MovingSoon - 29 August 2009 at 15:55

Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave with a well preserved body, but to skid in sideways at a high rate of speed, drink in one hand, totally worn out shouting, "Whoa, what a ride"!

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knowbot
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Posted: 29 August 2009 at 18:56

Thanks, this is useful information. In fact it appears my strategy was successful. I think the message says to key in the CPF number followed by *. First I tried # but this didn't work, then I tried a * and this got me another message after which it hung up on me.

Unfortunately it also appears that the CPF verification process uses up credits on the phone, so at that point I started getting a different message, something about emergency dialing I guess. I was a little alarmed, thinking that maybe my clumsy attempts at validation had tripped the alarms. But in fact it turned out I was just using the wrong method to enter the code from my recharge card.

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Segundavida
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Posted: 29 August 2009 at 20:48

It sometimes takes up to 24 hours for the SIM card to actually be activated after inputing the CPF # but sounds like you got it.Welcome to Brasil Big%20smile

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BicesterTerrier
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Posted: 12 June 2012 at 18:38

Sorry for the huge bump! Blame google. This still works, I was sitting in my hotel in Sao Paulo wondering how the hell I am going to get the damn phone working. 5 minutes later, job done.

The CPF generator website is a great link. It is definitely a * after the number, and then you have to press 1 to confirm that you wish to complete the process or something like that.

Thank you!! I only registered to post this thank you, but I might stop and have a look round, can you recommend any good starting points?

Rich

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spongebob
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Joined: 18 June 2007
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Posted: 13 June 2012 at 13:04

since you bumped it, just my 2 cents.

I don't know how those random CPF number generators work, but maybe you could end up with the wrong person's CPF. Not worth it, IMHO. It's too easy to go to the post office and pay something like R$ 5- R$ 10 and get a CPF. If you're not resident in Brazil, you're not liable for taxes. Unlike some governments, Brazil can care less if you live outside of Brazil.

-
** Just sayin' **
** Make lemonaid out of lemons. **
** Trolls get old...**

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nikkij12185
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Joined: 10 March 2009
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Posted: 13 June 2012 at 13:59

Originally posted by spongebob

since you bumped it, just my 2 cents.

I don't know how those random CPF number generators work, but maybe you could end up with the wrong person's CPF. Not worth it, IMHO. It's too easy to go to the post office and pay something like R$ 5- R$ 10 and get a CPF. If you're not resident in Brazil, you're not liable for taxes. Unlike some governments, Brazil can care less if you live outside of Brazil.

That'll take a couple of weeks to go through. Important in the long run, but if you need to use your phone now, that won't help much.

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