topic Using Pay and Go abroad in Discussions & Feedback

Using Pay and Go abroad

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:34:54 GMT

Hi I want to use a 'pay and go' SIM purely so I can make afew texts whilst on hols. I don't normally use pay and go but O2 advised i could just top up and it would work. However, i tried this and topped up £10 and got a bundle which is great for UK but didn't work abroad. Can you advise that if for example, I already have a £10 bundle and then topped up with an extra £10 that the 2nd top up could then be used to pay for texts abroad? What I don't want is to then get a bigger bundle! When I last used pay and go, I simply got £10 credit which reduced each time i used the phone.

Thanks, Sarah

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

Cleoriff — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:49:28 GMT

Hi @Anonymous

Have you thought of getting O2 Travel? Rates are very good

https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/international/using-phone-in-europe

How does Pay & Go O2 Travel work?

There's an allowance of 50MB and if you reach this, the service will stop
Once you have reached 50MB, and you want to use more data in the same day, you can then simply text MORETRAVEL to 21300 to reset your allowance for another £1.99 / 50MB
All allowances automatically end at midnight, so any unused allowance amount will not carry over to the following day. Terms apply
Calls back to the UK and within Europe – 16p per minute
Receiving calls in Europe – 4p per minute
Texts sent to the UK and Europe – 5p (free to receive)
Sending a media message – 35p per message

You can find the countries covered by O2 Travel here, plus additional details of our standard Pay & Go rates in Europe and the rest of the world.

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

jonsie — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 12:01:34 GMT

If you top up further you will just get more allowances and the credit will be taken.

To keep your credit you need to change to big talker.

If you're an existing Pay & Go customer, either

Text BIGTALK free to 21300
Call 2202 free from your mobile

Or call customer service and ask for the BASIC tariff which we believe is still available but you have to request it.

More info on BIG TALKER here.

http://www.o2.co.uk/help/pay-and-go/big-talker

This allows you to keep your credit. Don't top up until the tariff change takes effect.

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

MI5 — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 14:42:26 GMT

You can to up now and use the credit.
You would only get more UK allowance of you were at your anniversary date.
Prior to that date it will just be usable credit.

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:04:15 GMT

Hello all,

Please ignore my screenname if its "hadenoughofthis" as I have been very happy with 02 for quite a while now.

Im off to Iceland in a few weeks and need to make sure my phone will definitely work, probably for data more than anything else.

I have spoken to the gurus twice and they say I wont need to do anything except switch my phone to roaming and im really not sure its going to be that simple.

I have a standard pay as you go 02 sim, I top up with £10 per month on standard bundle, my phone is a samsung s5. I understand what the charges are so £10 wont be enough but im concerned if I need a special international bundle, special settings on my phone (not just switching it to roaming) or anything else I might need to set up ? Also, what if my phone is UK locked, how can I tell if it is ?

Can anyone help advise, im happy to choose a different bundle and pay extra but more concerned about settings and the actual sim card.

Michael

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

Cleoriff — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:19:17 GMT

Hi @Anonymous You will need O2 travel. Have a look at this guide..

https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/international/using-phone-in-europe

There's an allowance of 50MB and if you reach this, the service will stop
Once you have reached 50MB, and you want to use more data in the same day, you can then simply text MORETRAVEL to 21300 to reset your allowance for another £1.99 / 50MB
All allowances automatically end at midnight, so any unused allowance amount will not carry over to the following day. Terms apply
Calls back to the UK and within Europe – 16p per minute
Receiving calls in Europe – 4p per minute
Texts sent to the UK and Europe – 5p (free to receive)
Sending a media message – 35p per message

You can find the countries covered by O2 Travel here, plus additional details of standard Pay & Go rates in Europe and the rest of the world.

Also before I changed to contract I used my payg phone abroad with no problems whatsoever

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:19:20 GMT

Thank you,

I knew it wasnt going to be as simple as switching to roaming and thats it.

I will read that guide now, I have never travelled abroad on my own before so a bit nervy.

Michael

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

Cleoriff — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:25:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Thank you,

I knew it wasnt going to be as simple as switching to roaming and thats it.
I will read that guide now, I have never travelled abroad on my own before so a bit nervy.

Michael

I go abroad many times on my own and honestly @Anonymous I have never had a problem.. whether I was on payg or contract. Try to use WiFi where you can (then you can leave data roaming/mobile data turned off... If you use Wifi there will be no data charge. Turn voicemail off is another handy tip. I just turn my phone off when I get on the plane and back on when we land. It finds the appropriate network and away we go..

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

MI5 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:25:22 GMT

It really is as simple as turning on roaming on your handset.
You can use O2 travel rates in Iceland and everything should work as it does in the UK.

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:54:13 GMT

Many thanks again,

To be on the safe side I will "Text TRAVELON to 21300 to activate" a few days before my trip.

My anniversary date is in a few days so will top up a bit more and the next anniversary date is after my holiday.

Michael

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

Cleoriff — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 10:00:45 GMT

Best of luck Michael. Enjoy your trip and remember to use WiFi wherever you can....

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

MI5 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 10:04:17 GMT

Remember also that your bundle allowances won't work abroad so keep an eye on your balance.

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

jonsie — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 10:13:34 GMT

If you are flying you shouldn't have a problem but if you are going by boat or ferry, don't switch on your phone as they have their own network with crippling charges.

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 10:44:04 GMT

Thanks Everyone,

Great community here, long may it continue.

Michael

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

MI5 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 10:45:58 GMT

Thank you and Welcome

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

Cleoriff — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 10:48:26 GMT

Great to have you here @Anonymous Please let us know how you got on when you return from Iceland.

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

jonsie — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 10:52:37 GMT

Enjoy your trip @Anonymous

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:55:15 GMT

Oh well, looks like i wont be needing it now. Shame really, as i was looking forward to it.

Thanks for the advice.

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

MI5 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 14:14:05 GMT

Sorry to hear that mate 😞

Re: Using Pay and Go abroad

jonsie — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 15:23:21 GMT

The best laid plans....:smileysad: