freeglobalsim.com redux

[sidsub]

If you were reading this forum a couple of weeks ago you might remember I was trying to get my freeglobalsim.com order so I could actually use it on my trip to Europe. Except for a brief period they have been totally unresponsive to emails and phone calls. Here's a brief timeline of what happened:

April 30: I order a $50 card from freeglobalsim.com because of the web site's promise that I should get it within 5 working days. I was traveling on May 11, so there's plenty of time.

May 1: I send a friendly question by email asking when I should expect shipment. I get no response. I follow up with phone calls and find that the phone number goes nowhere.

May 3: I finally get a shipment notice from freeglobalsim saying that the order was shipped. They restate the 5 working day promise but now it starts at the shipping date, which is cutting it very close. I write to them again, and actually get a response(!) I ask if they can arrange to ship a replacement to an address in Europe if it doesn't get to me. They say we'll see.

May 10: Last opportunity for me to get the sim card before I leave. I email them again to ask if there's any remedy. I get no response.

May 11: I leave. I still don't have the card. I check email while away and get nothing from freeglobalsim. I still don't have a message from them since May 3.

May 22: I return from Europe. The card arrived sometime while I was away. It came by ordinary post which means it had no chance of getting to me in time.

So now I have a $50 card (with the full $50 credit) that expires in six months that is of no use to me. I could start writing nasty letters and threaten to sue them, but it's not worth it to me. Instead, I'll offer this up to anyone who's interested in using that $50 credit, but I would absolutely not recommend recharging the card or otherwise doing any business with them.

If you're interested in getting the card, make me an offer. I'd be willing to send it to a good home for something like $30. Email me at sid at ruthstreet dot com if you are interested.

Incidentally, I also discovered that freeglobalsim.com is basically reselling hfmglobalsim.com's cards. In fact the web site is lifted verbatim from hfmglobalsim.com all the way down to the pictures and animated gifs and the offer prices.

Sid

[Bossman]

It's unfortunate it did not work out for you.

Just want to let you know that the card will not expire as long as you make a chargable activity (send sms, make/receive a chargable call) every 6 months.

[cordelli]

Their customer service is virtually non exhistant.

I purchased a SIM from them recently, it came without any hesitation at all, but the phone number and PIN did not come. Several e-mails, several calls to the UK and still no response other than being told things like "I'll be in the office in a half hour, e-mail us again and we'll send them straight out".

Of course, in a half hour, the phone was not answered, and the e-mails not answered.

The only way I was able to get an answer was when I sent the service they process their credit cards through a mail saying I was putting the charge in dispute because they were selling worthless items (without the PIN, the sim is pretty much useless).

Within a day they responded with the info.

The card worked great though, the only issue on Mother's day when it took anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour for the call backs. The rest of the time it was just a few seconds for the call backs.

I seriously doubt I would use them again though when I finish this one off, it's just too much of a hassle dealing with them.

[tharwood]

I too had similar problems. I would get the SIM card without its phone number, PIN code, etc. I would have to email them to get the information. Then, once in Europe, I tried to top-up and received multiple "security issues" when doing this online in Italy. I called and emailed and was promised a 2 pound addition to my account to cover my need to call my son who we accidentally separated from. This did not happen.
I then tried for the next 4 days to top-up online, got server database error web pages every time. "Customer support" replied with "sorry, we are working on it".
Needless to say, we finally went to an FNAC store in Paris and got an Orange SIM plan and used that.
Lesson learned.
Tim in U.S.

[kenr]

I had a similar problem. I got my card in the mail but the pin, puk and phone number on the breakout portion of the sim weren't valid. I tried multiple times to contact them but no response. Luckly someone here mentioned that the information was on an email sent to me from globalsim when I ordered the card, that worked Anyway Globalsim provides zero support. I'm leaving next week for our trip. I can't imagine they are going to survive in business much longer. I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed and hope I don't have any issues in Europe.
Ken

[krlk]

Now prices are OK this same on website
this same on my phone
prices was upated on website
now it is ok

Prices on call calculator are lower, but only on freeglobalsim website
in real they are higher about 20% 30%
that is not fair
we bought sim from they company, because prices was low
but it is not true

[Bossman]

All the rates that I checked, that I am likely to visit doubled. Some that were free incoming (such as Aruba) are now no loinger free incoming and about $2.00. Call forwarding is now charged. I found that out laste week when I forwarded to my UM sim and was dinged $0.78 for a minuute. Nigeria and UK to the US used to be $0.33 and $0.28 they are now $0.80 and $0.71 respectively.

Ok, I will use up my credit and look for the next best international sim.