The new law, which came into force in August, will make it more difficult for criminals to obtain anonymous phones.

But the requirement for identification creates that for asylum seekers.

SVT followed Silvana Achire, who for several weeks tried to register her prepaid card from Tele2/Comviq

"We must have a Swedish social security number, otherwise it is not possible to register the number," says the comviq agent at ICA Maxi in Samarkand.

- I have to be in contact with the school, dentist, doctor and risk missing important summonses and getting fined, that worries me, says Silvana Achire.

SVT is testing five agents in Växjö

Silvana has a coordination number which, according to the new law, should be sufficient to get the cash card registered.

But despite that, she is repeatedly denied registration.

SVT accompanies Silvana to five different comviq agents around Växjö and all respond in a similar way.

"Sorry, we can't help you, it doesn't work".

Physical passport should be enough

Foreigners who do not have a social security number can register a cash card with their passport.

However, the Migration Agency keeps the asylum seeker's passport throughout the asylum process and Silvana only has a passport copy which is not accepted by the agents.

And she can't redeem a new cash card either.

"It's the same thing there, we have to have a Swedish social security number and the coordination number doesn't make it through the system," says a COOP representative.

- They don't take our situation seriously and I certainly feel discriminated against, says Silvana Achire.

At Comviq, they say that Silvana should be able to register her cash card, and that they should now review the matter.

- We take this seriously and we need to invest in more information vis-à-vis the agents, of which there are many around the country.

Soon, customers will also be able to register their prepaid cards online, says Fredrik Hallstan, communications manager at Tele2/Comviq.

CUT: Comviq on the problems: "Is deplorable"

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Comviq's communications manager Fredrik Hallstan promises improvement in the future.

Photo: SVT