Recharging Italian sim cards from abroad... TIM and Wind

[Effendi]

Italian operators don't have a public policy on recharging with foreign credit cards or from abroad. It's a total mess. Another mess was done by eBayers selling prepaid cards with no registration or false registration. In Italy we have a very stupid law for registering prepaid cards: it makes things complicated for foreigners and doesn't stop any "crime" (yes, it's supposed to be an anti-crime law).
So, as I always said, unless you are very lucky, or you visit Italy at max every 11 months, forget your cards and buy a new one every time you come here back.

[Intasun77]

@ Effendi,

Thanks for the comments.

You may have a point here, I purchased this sim card on ebay about four years ago. It was pre registered which saved me the hassles of doing this when I arrived in Italy, it also gave me a working phone when I got off the plane.
I also found that some of my online account details had been changed a while ago. This point has been posted on this forum several times, it was not my personal details but the details that were registered by the seller of the sim.
I think you are correct about buying a sim card on every visit.

[fedeprovenza]

Originally Posted by Intasun77

@ Effendi,

Thanks for the comments.

You may have a point here, I purchased this sim card on ebay about four years ago. It was pre registered which saved me the hassles of doing this when I arrived in Italy, it also gave me a working phone when I got off the plane.
I also found that some of my online account details had been changed a while ago. This point has been posted on this forum several times, it was not my personal details but the details that were registered by the seller of the sim.
I think you are correct about buying a sim card on every visit.

if you haven't an important reason to keep active 1 number, it's better to buy a new card on every visit

[lothian110]

so let me get this straight.
even if i send an a regular sms from the phone to another cell, that itself won't keep the sim card active? so even using the phone won't keep a sim with credit active? the only way to keep it active is to recharge within the 12months?!

if so, that is ridiculous...

[beppe_bl]

Originally Posted by lothian110

so let me get this straight.
even if i send an a regular sms from the phone to another cell, that itself won't keep the sim card active? so even using the phone won't keep a sim with credit active? the only way to keep it active is to recharge within the 12months?!

if so, that is ridiculous...

yes, excluding 3it ( ), to keep alive a sim you have to recharge it (like the majority of european operators do)

[fedeprovenza]

Originally Posted by lothian110

so let me get this straight.
even if i send an a regular sms from the phone to another cell, that itself won't keep the sim card active? so even using the phone won't keep a sim with credit active? the only way to keep it active is to recharge within the 12months?!

if so, that is ridiculous...

I know, but in Italy there are a lot of things ridiculous

[BLC]

Originally Posted by Effendi

Italian operators don't have a public policy on recharging with foreign credit cards or from abroad. It's a total mess. Another mess was done by eBayers selling prepaid cards with no registration or false registration. In Italy we have a very stupid law for registering prepaid cards: it makes things complicated for foreigners and doesn't stop any "crime" (yes, it's supposed to be an anti-crime law).
So, as I always said, unless you are very lucky, or you visit Italy at max every 11 months, forget your cards and buy a new one every time you come here back.

The problem is I still have 50 euro on the card which I hate to lose! We will be in Italy a week after my 12 months is up on Wind, if I recharge then do I retain my credit on the phone?

Barry

[fedeprovenza]

Yes, you can bring it on new sim or obtain your credit by check

[BLC]

The 155.it site accepted my Canadian Visa Card! I was able to recharge so I won't lose my number before we get back to Italy in September.

Barry