Turkcell Blocked My eSIM Transfer and Left Me Unreachable for Days Abroad

I had been using Turkcell eSIM for three years when I traveled abroad for work and exchanged my old phone for a new one. I successfully transferred other eSIM profiles, including international ones, but neither I nor the Apple representative could transfer my Turkcell eSIM, as the transfer was not supported. I had to call Turkcell from abroad multiple times using different lines, yet they were unable to generate a new eSIM QR code for six days. After spending hours navigating the app myself (which was extremely difficult without receiving SMS messages), I finally managed to retrieve my old eSIM QR code—only to find that it was not transferable. I then attempted to obtain a new eSIM via Turkey’s e-Government portal (e-Devlet) by verifying my identity with NFC and my ID card, which was also problematic due to SMS issues. Eventually, I managed to log in via my bank, only to discover that I also needed to verify through another step, which was not possible. I even submitted petitions to banks, but due to the weekend, the process was delayed. Now, on the sixth day, I am still unable to: Receive phone calls Receive SMS messages Access WhatsApp Access my email Perform banking transactions Make credit card payments Access social media and other essential services While technology offers convenience in many areas, I have realized how unprepared we are when things go wrong. This situation has significantly impacted my ability to work and make payments. Companies like Turkcell must acknowledge their critical responsibility, as SMS-based authentication is essential for modern digital identity verification. Losing access to your phone can quickly turn into a nightmare. Other mobile operators provide better solutions, such as shipping a physical SIM card abroad faster or enabling instant eSIM activation via apps. Despite making numerous calls, Turkcell's customer support was unhelpful, and no effective technical assistance was provided, leading to significant time and effort wasted on my end. This issue was not caused by my negligence but is a widespread problem that can affect many users.