Incoming SMS are never charged by German providers, even not during roaming. So you should have been charged anything for the "welcome" text and the one informing you about roaming rates.

Then I can't explain the reduction in my credit. Are you sure this is true in the US where we pay for incoming texts as well? The SIM was roaming on AT&T which does charge for incoming texts to their customers. I was on wifi and data roaming was turned off so I don't think it is a data cost. No real harm done for me - just trying to clarify for future users.

Yes, I'm absolutely sure that incoming SMS are never charged by German operators, even not in the US, where I've personal experience. Also Lidl's tariff guide (p. 2 at last third of page) incoming SMS ("Empfang SMS") are free ("kostenlos") in all roaming zones.

I accidently bought the "smart" tariff. How bad is this deal (granted I wont call very much). Will I be billed more than the 10 euro if I for some reason use it up and if I don't use it all up will it accumulate for the next month or will it just disappear? And what's up with the domestic, am I not able to use the 10 euros for international calls?

A finas question; is it possible to get my money refunded? I asked the lidl cashier for a prepaid sim card and I got this monthly fee card instead. I've opened the package but have not activated the card.

As this plan has only be launched only last month I don't have any particular experience. But afaik you need to provide a German bank account upon activation which will hinder you from activating your SIM card. You could also try to call customer care at 0176/88880000 and ask them if they can switch you back to the "Classic tariff".

Hello everyone!! I have a couple of question about the lidle internet stick:
1) I would like to buy the 1 day flatrate, now the question is: it's throttled after 500 MB/day, but is it also throttled after 5 GB/Month like Fonic or not??
2) I have a Congstar internet stick now, can I just buy the lidl card and reuse the stick??

I have had an email exchange with customer service following the message I sent them from 'Mein Fonic'. They confirm that the hotel address I gave is the problem - though I don't know what the hotel did, or failed to do.

Anyway they will not reactivate the SIM unless I supply a German address. They will not accept a UK address. (They are emailing in English and are very polite and apologetic.)

Maybe when I visit Germany again, if the SIM is still in the same state I can try again with another hotel, and warn them in advance to expect the letter and keep it for me.

From my experience they do not send out another confirmation letter after you amend your address details. Actually they have reactivated SIM cards without even providing a new address, but just by confirming that the original address was valid despite the confirmation letter was returned.

Yes, if you exceed 500MB per day your connection will the throttled until midnight. Regardless from this limitation you'll also be throttled once you exceed 5GB within a 30-day billing period.

Yes, but you'll probably need to unlock it. If your stick was manufactured by Huawei (see backside), unlocking is super easy: http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/mobi...odems-web.html

how can i activate
 

Hello,

can U help me please... i am totally lost in the german language...

I bought a lidl classic tariff, and i did the "freischaltung" on lidl-mobile.de, but after that the number is still not active. I can't call, and can't receive calls...
(Now it's active, but i forgot the activation code... can i add it later???)

Is that 9,95 euro price just the number, or it contains any balance, because my balance is 0 euro?! :(

thx,
p.

according to LIDL MOBILE ? Prepaid-wiki the start pack classic contains 10eur credit!

No problem at all... it just took several hours... :(

LIDL Monatsflatrate cancellation?
 

A quick question: does anyone know whether or not, if I cancel my LIDL Monatsflaterate halfway through the 30 day period and then afterwards reactivate it, the monthly data-volume limit will be reset with the newly activated Monatsflatfate plan?

Throttling is killing me, and besides shortening the plan and just paying to restart it sooner, I don't know how else to deal with it. Getting another sim card would work if cancelling and restarting doesn't, but then I have 2 cards to deal with, and 2 accounts... If restarting the plan worked, it'd be simplest. I could just foresee something weird and maybe really frustrating happening, though, like me paying the 14.95 Euro again but still getting stuck with my already depleted data-volume.

Unfortunately you cannot cancel your current tariff within the ongoing billing period. So you can neither switch to another tariff nor order a second 5GB pack before those 30 days have passed. I don't see any alternative to buying a second SIM.

Thanks, it seems that that's what I'll be doing, other hassles aside.

Remember to enter another Fonic number (presumably your existing number) on registration, then you'll have 15 euro credit total. That way you won't really lose anything by having a second SIM, though you will have to wait a couple of days for the extra 5 euro to show up. You'll get 5 euro credit on your other Fonic SIM, so the net cost will be less than simply adding the tariff again to your existing account.

simyo or lidl
 

Can you advice me, which is better in Frankfurt?
(speaking, and mobile net...)

thx,
p.

You mean which operator provides better coverage or faster data speeds than O2 (on which Lidl is based)?

Lidl or Ja!/Penny
 

Hello,
Please help me to decide!
I’m trying to choose between Lidl and Ja!/PennyMobil.
Ja! and Penny both are based on Telekom and have a better 3G coverage especially near Austria.
So they may provide a faster internet in that area.
Ja! and Penny don’t require an address confirmation.
The only advantage of Lidl I see is the VoIP support.
But this issue on Ja! And Penny may be solved by using VPN.
Is it correct?
Thank you.

Lidl and Fonic have had a series of problems lately that make them hard to recommend any more. You might also consider Edeka mobil, which has the same price structure, but runs on Vodafone.

Yes. Another advantage of Lidl are the cheap international rates to European countries and North America.

What problems do you mean? The only recent issue of Lidl/Fonic I am aware of is linked to the billing of the new "Smart Tarif" which isn't relevant to visitors as it requires a German bank account.

Granted, most of the problems wouldn't affect short-term visitors, but late last year Fonic introduced a new billing system that plunged the whole network into chaos. People reported ordering internet packages and having the order go through days later, while they continued to be billed at 24 c/Mb. Number ports took months, and porting out took weeks. Getting through to the customer hotline could take a long time.

While Lidl still has very good 3 GB/month and 24 h Internet tariffs, most of Fonic's other prices (9 c/min within Germany, to European landlines and N. America; 24 c/Mb data) have been matched by other providers (such as Edeka, which uses the superior Vodafone network, or Congstar on the likewise better Telekom network). Hence I don't know if it's worth the potential trouble, even for short- or long-term use.

Yes, which provides better coverage, and faster data speed?
Simyo also allows voip calls or block them?
What kind of problems Fonic / Lidl have?

Thanks a lot!
p.

@Motel75
I am aware of those past problems which where linked to the introduction of a new billing system. But they seem to be solved for a couple of weeks now and as you said mostly affected postpaid subscribers of the "Smart tariff".
Doubtlessly T-Mobile and Vodafone provide better coverage and higher bandwidth, but they charge for that accordingly. While Lidl gives you 5GB for € 15, Ja mobil and Penny mobil (the cheapest brands on T-Mobile) block VoIP and throttle customers already after 3GB. With congstar and all the discounters on the Vodafone network 3GB will cost you even € 20. Notably for the large data packs (>500MB) Vodafone discounters won't throttle your speed after exceeding the monthly allowance but they will terminate Internet access and you will have to order a new pack.
Edeka indeed offers the same international rates like Lidl but the only data option is a 500MB pack for € 10/month.
Lastly SIM cards from most providers on T-Mobile and Vodafone are more expensive, as they are all sold for € 10 but include less credit than Lidl (€ 5 vs. € 10) and do not have a customer referral program that gives you an additional bonus of € 5 for Lidl.
Depending on individual travel route and amount of data usage T-Mobile and Vodafone may be the better choice but for those who are happy with a downlink of 2-3 MBit/s and stay close to the agglomerations, Lidl is still very interesting as is cheaper and provides unrestricted Internet access.

@papeti01
Simyo is based on eplus, which is by far the worst network in Germany. If you want better coverage and higher bandwidth have a look at Ja mobil, Penny mobil which are identical and both offer 3GB for € 20/month or Bildmobil which has the following data options:
7 days for € 6.99 (terminated early if exceeding 1GB)
30 days for € 19.99 (terminated early if exceeding 3GB)
90 days for € 39.99 (terminated early if exceeding 5GB)

I think I will stay at Lidl. It's cheap, and doesn't block Voip. :)
The only way to refill my credit is to go to a Lidl, and buy a card... isn't it?

thx,
p.

You can also use Fonic top up vouchers to recharge Lidl SIMs. These are available at many retail stores, kiosks, gasstations and also online at http://www.aufladen.de/de/shop/prepaid/fonic-de
The only downside of Fonic vouchers is that the smallest face value available is € 20.
Another option is to top up by bank transfer as described here.

Yes, but according to this report (http://www.telefon-treff.de/showthre...08#post4507708), the real limit per month before the speed is throttled is actually 2 GB. If this is true, then Edeka provides the same value as Lidl; however, it would be unwise to count on this always being so.

Hello all.
Im goind to be in Bremen for 1 month and I need internet access. I read this post and Lidl option seems the best for me. Can you help me with the steps?

1 - buy Lidl mobile classic tarif card ina lidl store
2 - buy rechard card for 15€ ??
3 - activate the card in the internet
4 - send a message with the content "?????" to number ???


my question on point 2 is that the card comes with 10€ for what I read and as the monthly cost of the internet is 15€ do I need to rechard the card with more 15€ and then to activate the internet?

Thanks

Inquisitor, I think the Lidl Classic PAYG SIM might be the best for me for my upcoming vacation to Germany, but I can't read your instruction web pages on Wetpaint because they are currently blocked. Do you have a new tutorial page or an alternate URL for these pages? I have a friend in Garmisch that is willing to purchase SIM cards for me (voice and data for iPhone 4s) and send them to the US for our trip in early September, so any assistance or tips (via your web page or here on the forum) would be most appreciated.

New plan from tomorrow. The plan is called "Lidl Mobile Smart S" and will distach the former Smart XL plan. For 7.99€ you get 300 national minutes OR text, unlimited calls AND text to other Lidl Mobile customers and 300 MB of data. If you exceed your volume you'll be limited to 64 kbit/s. You're able to purchase more "high speed" volume. 200 MB for 3.99€.

@webdweeb
There's a snapshot of the Wetpaint article at LIDL mobile - Prepaid Wireless Internet Access

Except for the lacking new "Smart" tariffs the information is still up-to-date. In any case I will look for a new space where to host this guide.

@Marschel
Have you read the T&Cs for the Smart S tariff?
Unfortunately you are required to provide bank details of a German bank account and consent to direct debit in order to activate the "Smart" tariffs which is not an option for most fellow forum members.

Inquisitor, thanks for the new link-this looks like a good SIM for my needs (ie, tourist). Since Lidl is a piggyback on the O2 network similar to Fonic, can I assume that the roaming costs are the same as for Fonic/O2? We will be concluding our trip in Austria, so I now need to decide if I should get yet another SIM in Austria or just pay the roaming costs (voice and SMS-data roaming is a killer). I plan to use the Wifi at our accommodations for most of my data needs, but it would be nice to be able to use certain apps (mainly Google Maps) on my iPhone when we are out and about.

One item that may be a challenge: the friend that will be purchasing the SIMs for me has an APO address (she lives on a US Army base in Germany), so I don't know if that qualifies as a German address or not. If not, it appears I may have a problem registering the Lidl SIM, since they require receipt of a letter

Yes, they are:

calls from Austria to Germany: € 0.28/min
calls from Austria to the US: € 1.29/min
inbound calls while in Austria: € 0.08/min
SMS from Austria to Germany: € 0.09
SMS from Austria to the US: € 0.39
data: € 0.53/MB (billed in 1KB increments)

source: http://www.lidl.de/de/asset/other/LI...ugust_2013.pdf

If you activate the "Smartphone-Internet-Flatrate" (500MB for use within Germany for € 6.99/month) or one of the "Smart" tariffs data roaming in EU countries will be billed differently. Then the "EU Internet-Tages-Pack" ("EU Internet day pack") will apply which gives you 10MB for € 3 per calendar day, charged upon the first transfered byte. After consuming those 10MB the session will be interrupted and you won't have any data roaming service until midnight.
Unfortunately the "EU Internet-Tages-Pack" is not available to subscribers of the 5GB data pack for € 14.99/month and there's no option to resubscribe it after reaching your daily allowance of 10MB.

If you plan to subscribe to the 500MB pack for Germany and so the EU day pack applies you could use the Lidl SIM in Austria. 10MB should be enough for sporadic Google Maps use (but disable the satellite image layer as it is very data-hungry!). But if you go for the 5GB pack and so data roaming would be billed with some expensive € 0.53/MB you should better get an Austrian SIM.

Lidl will require a street address, a German ZIP and your city which you should be able to provide. However I don't know if Lidl's database used for address verification contains the names of the streets on restricted military area. If not you could try to provide the address of the barracks' guardhouse which should have a public address. Unfortunately there is no way to include a unit, building number or any other additional information that may be required to get the mail delivered to your friends but as long as the letter is not being returned there's no problem.

I've just provided information... :cool:

It appears that this plan requires a German bank account. So probably won't work for any travelers, but useful for those who live in Germany.

hi,

As I see the lidl prepaid changed. I would like to buy a number to my wife, and I need your advice. We are living in Germany, we have german bank account, and I already have a lidl number (classic tarif)

In this case which offer is the better for us? Which one should I buy for her?Lild smart tarif S, or the classic one , which as I see also contains community flatrate 1 Jahr kostenlos...???
CLASSIC - Lidl Deutschland - lidl.de

If buy for her a classic, we can speak free or I also have to change something with my number?
Can I change my classic tarif to classic smart s?

Thank U for your advice! and for the lot of answer :)
p.

ps: am I right that this offer is better than aldi talk 300 because of the network (o2 vs. e-plus), and the non block voip calls???

No, only she can speak and text for free because this offer is limited to new customers.
Yes.
Never heard that they block VoiP calls. Network conditions are nearly the same.

Each of you will get 5€ credit if you put in your number during her registration.

Thanks.
So it means that if we all together have this smart S, than we can speak for FREE with each other anytime, any-long..., and we have 300 min, or sms to all the other German gsm providers?
How long is the contract, is there any loyalty time? Do i have to order this smart s every new month, of this is automatic?
Can you tell me how can I change my classic tarif to this?

Thx,
p.

Yes.
No.
Renew automatically every month.

Online or the call customer care.

Thank you! You really helped me a lot!
I bought one, now I will register.
Just one more question, if i don't want to renew it, can i change it back to normal classic tarif?

P.