Unblocking a Fonic Sim
 

I just checked my account and my Fonic Sim still has almost 25 Euros on it. I haven't used the card since last summer so I am sure it is blocked by now. I believe I can unblock it by topping it up. I was hoping to do that, though, before getting to Germany so I'll have a working phone when I arrive. Is there any way to do that before leaving the US?

Afaik Fonic do not lock SIM cards anymore. Why don't you try it? Just put your SIM card into a phone, switch it on and check if it will register on a network (Fonic SIMs are enabled for roaming and should work in the US, too). Once it is registered you can additionally try to place an outgoing call (just call your US number but do not pick up the call) - if it rings your SIM is still completely active.

I stuck it into my newly unlocked iPhone (I finally did it when I was in London) and it worked. Thank you!

As a data point, Fonic does still deactivate SIMs. I had one that I hadn't used for about 18 months, and they finally shut it off last week (shows as "gesperrt" on the website):

Fristgerechte Kündigung Ihres FONIC Vertrages 49176xxxxxxxx

"Lieber Herr linglingfool!
wir bedauern es sehr, dass Sie FONIC nicht mehr aktiv nutzen.
Leider müssen wir nun davon ausgehen, dass Sie nicht weiter an unseren Leistungen interessiert sind. Wie bereits angekündigt, erfolgt hiermit die Kündigung Ihres FONIC Mobilfunkvertrags entsprechend Ziffer 9 der Allgemeinen Geschläftsbedingungen mit einer Frist von 1 Monat. Ab diesem Zeitpunkt können Sie mit Ihrer SIM-Karte weder telefonieren noch angerufen werden.

Sofern uns Ihre Bankverbindung vorliegt, werden wir Ihr Restguthaben auf Ihr Bankkonto überweisen. Bitte beachten Sie, dass nicht verbrauchte Gutschriften nicht auszahlbar sind. Andernfalls bitten wir Sie, Ihre Bankdaten unter FONIC ? günstige SIM für Handy & Surf-Stick. Prepaid. Ohne Grundgebühr noch einzutragen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Ihr FONIC Team"

Thanks for this info. Actually Fonic still preserve the right to cancel contracts (legally a prepaid SIM card is also considered a contract) with a notice period of 1 month. However they do not temporarily deactivate SIM cards after a firm period as they did before after an inactivity of 6 months. I believe a period of 18 months until cancellation is quite fair and unique in the prepaid world.

I agree, I think it's fair -- I just wish I hadn't ignored the notice and used the card since I just found out I'll be needing it next week.