Orange Call Abroad / "Camel" [renamed thread]

[unlocked]

I'd add that if you're in the UK and don't have a swipe card (a) you can pick one up free at supermarkets and maybe newsagents, then call T-Mob to tie the number on the card to your phone; and (b) most newsagents can sell an e-voucher (no swipe card needed) that gives you a code number to call in to T-Mob for credit, just like the older scratch-off cards but without the scratching.

Registering a credit card with T-Mob is an alternative but last time I tried their system wouldn't accept non-UK credit cards; that is, they wouldn't register my US-based Visa, MC, or AmEx. Weird since the US-based cards are readily accepted in shops all over the world. If this has changed maybe somebody will chime in.

[MATHA531]

Originally Posted by unlocked

I'd add that if you're in the UK and don't have a swipe card (a) you can pick one up free at supermarkets and maybe newsagents, then call T-Mob to tie the number on the card to your phone; and (b) most newsagents can sell an e-voucher (no swipe card needed) that gives you a code number to call in to T-Mob for credit, just like the older scratch-off cards but without the scratching.

Registering a credit card with T-Mob is an alternative but last time I tried their system wouldn't accept non-UK credit cards; that is, they wouldn't register my US-based Visa, MC, or AmEx. Weird since the US-based cards are readily accepted in shops all over the world. If this has changed maybe somebody will chime in.

The lack of accepting out of country credit cards is an on-going problem not just on British sites but it seems throughout the mobile world...you can't use a non French credit card to top up a French sim (important because they steal your credit or at least the number if not topped up within certain amounts of time - at least this is true on ORANGE FR)...same thing seems to hold on TIM in Italy.

Why this is so has always been beyond me...fraud?????.....come on the amounts are rarely enough to warrant fraud or expose the companies to much of a risk.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by unlocked

Registering a credit card with T-Mob is an alternative but last time I tried their system wouldn't accept non-UK credit cards; that is, they wouldn't register my US-based Visa, MC, or AmEx. Weird since the US-based cards are readily accepted in shops all over the world. If this has changed maybe somebody will chime in.

Orange let me register a Canadian credit card with them (although I was in London at the time) . O2 did not let me. I did not try any of the other providers.

[FBlack_111]

So is T-Mobile limited to only a few countries in Europe like the UK and Germany? What about Orange? I will be in Ireland and France as well.

[Ukap]

I will be in UK in 3 weeks. I am a USA resident but I have family that live in the UK. I can use their address for mailing if I need to. If I understand correctly, if I get a UK sim I will not be able to charge/top up with my credit card because my card address is USA? How would I top up in the UK....just cash?

I was going to ask my family to get a SIM for me and mail it to me here in the USA before I leave so I will know my phone number. Maybe this idea will not work.

On my trip all I will need is to call the USA on a regular basis on my mobile phone during the week to check on business.
I had planned to use t-mobile bundles for their good rates to the USA. Reading your posts it seems that PAYG customers cannot purchase bundles.

Do you have any suggestions? I have an unlocked GSM quad phone already. I would really like to know my sim number before I go so I can give out before I leave.

[MATHA531]

Originally Posted by Ukap

I will be in UK in 3 weeks. I am a USA resident but I have family that live in the UK. I can use their address for mailing if I need to. If I understand correctly, if I get a UK sim I will not be able to charge/top up with my credit card because my card address is USA? How would I top up in the UK....just cash?

I was going to ask my family to get a SIM for me and mail it to me here in the USA before I leave so I will know my phone number. Maybe this idea will not work.

On my trip all I will need is to call the USA on a regular basis on my mobile phone during the week to check on business.
I had planned to use t-mobile bundles for their good rates to the USA. Reading your posts it seems that PAYG customers cannot purchase bundles.

Do you have any suggestions? I have an unlocked GSM quad phone already. I would really like to know my sim number before I go so I can give out before I leave.

Yeah what you're saying will work.....but unfortunately Orange UK has recently raised the rates to call the USA on its call abroad to an astronomical 7p/minute...you realize that's almost 14¢/minute US

To top up, they give you a swipe card which looks like a credit card you simply take into most any grocery chain store or chemist or mobile phone store, tell the clerk how much credit you wish, he or she runs it through a terminal, pay the money (£5 is the minimum) and off you go....

However a better deal, and easier too, is T Mobile UK...if you check their web site they will send 2 (count them 2) free sim cards to your relatives' UK address (see www.tinyurl.com/yro2ay)

They can even use the swipe cards enclosed to top up one of them (T mobile UK sim cards arrive without credit but provide the same swipe card noted above) and mail one or both to you....

T Mobile UK has better rates to other netowrks in the UK and when using yourcallworld (www.yourcallworld.com), will provide calls to the US at 3p/minute much more to my tastes.

One other advantage of the T Mobile solution is the sim cards do not have to be registered...orange sim cards require registration (not a big deal but one further thing that needs to be done); T Mobile UK sim cards arrive ready for action.

[petkow]

Originally Posted by Ukap

I had planned to use t-mobile bundles for their good rates to the USA. Reading your posts it seems that PAYG customers cannot purchase bundles. Do you have any suggestions?

Just to reconfirm that the deal that MATHA531 mentions using yourcallworld is open to all T-Mobile customers including Pay as you go customers as well.

So...Basically I think your problem is solved. Just click on that link he has provided, get a free SIM or 2 sent to your buddies in the UK, then ask them to open the package when it arrives so they can tell you the telephone number(s) printed on the back of the packs so that you can give out your number before you leave.

The moment you arrive and are reunited with your SIM, just pop into a corner store, petrol station or supermarket and put 5 quid of credit on the SIM using the swipe card. There you will be able to pay with cash or even your US credit card! However, you can't register the US card to top up by phone though.

The next step is you dial the full 07755 access number of Yourcallworld followed by your US number and you can be talking to the US at only 3p/min! Your total investment of the equivalent of under $10 will then have got you 2hours and 47 minutes of talk time to the US and also free incoming for your friends from the US to call you back on!