3UK activation in USA?

[wolfbln]

Hi Powerlifter.

About roaming period: They've used to deactivate roaming in some cases when users used their SIM cards only for roaming. This was reported as soon as after 2 months of permanent roaming in some cases.

This has changed now, as Three UK has to comply with the new EU roaming rules. Now, there is a "monitoring period" of 4 months, in which your consumption may be "monitored". If this is predominantly in roaming, then they are allowed to impose a surcharge of around £8-9 per GB to roaming after that period. They are not allowed to disable roaming (at least in Europe) anymore like they did before.

About activation: Three says activation should take place in the UK. Actually, I've activated some Three SIM cards before through a roaming network in Europe. So I don't think that this is absolutely mandatory as the SIM is delivered pre-activated mostly as there is no registration or anything like this in the UK.

It's a viable choice as long as you can live with the known restrictions: strict 9GB per month cap for roaming, no 4G/LTE roaming outside the UK and European 3G networks get more and more crowded, low priorisation, hard to top-up (without surcharge) from abroad, UK "content lock" in place and strictly no tethering (WiFi hotspot use) on their Pay-as-you-go SIM. How they are going to handle the 4-months rule we'll see later this year.

[rfranzq]

Originally Posted by wolfbln

About roaming period: They've used to deactivate roaming in some cases when users used their SIM cards only for roaming. This was reported as soon as after 2 months of permanent roaming in some cases.

This has changed now, as Three UK has to comply with the new EU roaming rules. Now, there is a "monitoring period" of 4 months, in which your consumption may be "monitored". If this is predominantly in roaming, then they are allowed to impose a surcharge of around £8-9 per GB to roaming after that period. They are not allowed to disable roaming (at least in Europe) anymore like they did before.

Is data the big issue for them, then?

If I only use talk and text will they leave me alone?

If I use T&T and very little data am I going to be OK?


We might see in a few months.

[powerlifter]

@WolfBin That is good to know about roaming as I will use it strictly for roaming. I travel very little to The UK. I will be in Switzerland next month, and was thinking about Swisscom. You can top it up with an American credit card. I use very little Data so nowhere near 9GB
a month. You are right top-up is a pain. As you can see from my Avatar I had a Vodaphone Sim card. Lent it to my nephew who lost it. @rfranz have you used the top-up that you mentioned earlier in the thread?

[rfranzq]

Originally Posted by powerlifter

@rfranz have you used the top-up that you mentioned earlier in the thread?

I have used the first one that charges 15%.
I have not needed to top up a second time yet.
The second one charges 10%.

[powerlifter]

Well, I broke down and ordered the 3 Sim card. I will see if it works when I am abroad in a couple of weeks.

[rfranzq]

Originally Posted by powerlifter

Well, I broke down and ordered the 3 Sim card. I will see if it works when I am abroad in a couple of weeks.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Unlike mere international SIM providers, this company
seems to be big enough to want to do this well and
to have the will to do it well.
If they were incompetent,
I think we would have heard more about them by now.
Looking forward to your report.

[powerlifter]

I was in Zurich. I tried to text a U.S. number the text never went through. I tried texting in U.S. same thing never went through. I am in Oman now. It is way too expensive here to try it. tried to use WhatsApp did not work.

[Bossman]

You are probably aware of this, but did you send the text using the +12225558888 format? Most of what I have read about 3-UK is positive. Also, the sims are already data and roaming active. So, not sure why whatsapp did not work for you. As long as you have the correct APN. Also, You may want to to go into the phones menu and make sure allow roaming is selected.

Originally Posted by powerlifter

I was in Zurich. I tried to text a U.S. number the text never went through. I tried texting in U.S. same thing never went through. I am in Oman now. It is way too expensive here to try it. tried to use WhatsApp did not work.

[rfranzq]

I received a SMS from ThreeUK this morning.
It said "Wecome to the USA" where it has always been since activated in early June[?].
It was titled "Rate Advice".
It would appear that the rates have changed.
{call, text, data} 3.3p, 1.3p, 3.3p/MB [old 3p, 2, 1p/MB]


The newest PAYG_Price_Guide_191017.pdf does not seem to reflect these rates.

[powerlifter]

Well, I went to Amman, Jordan, but had a layover in Vienna as my flight got canceled. Had a friend there and we talked and messaged several times and the 3 sim worked perfectly. Bossman, I think you were right I might of have roaming turned off. Very pleased with the sim card.