texting from the uk to the eu

[pt123456789]

 I am currently on o2 monthly big bundles, I only pay £10 a month for 1000 texts 250 minutes and 500mb of data. but I never use up my text and have rarely used my talk credit. can I text a person in europe under this plan? will it use up my text allowance quicker?

I had a look and saw something about the europe "zone" but I am not really any clearer, do I get charged for receiving texts from someone in the eu. ftr the eu country is sweden.

[MI5]

@pt123456789 you cannot text EU numbers when in the UK without extra credit as they are not included in bundles.

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/calling-abroad-standard-rates

[Cleoriff]

@pt123456789

More info here https://www.o2.co.uk/help/pay-monthly/calling-abroad-from-the-uk

and a community guide here

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/International-Calling-From-UK-Versus-Roaming-abroad/ba-p...

[pt123456789]

@Cleoriff

@MI5

thanks, just went over the information, so it looks like my current package isn#'t really the way to go about it, on the current package I will be charged 25p per text. I saw links to other packages on the second link, and from what I can tell my options for texting someone in sweden are;

a £3 bolt on for my £10 big bundle. 

a new sim for international and uk calls.

I have to apologize as I find this a little confusing, will the bolt on mean I only get £3 of credit for texts at 15p per text, so do I get 20 texts? (3.0 divided by 0.15).

and with the international bundle I have to order a new sim, but the rates will be cheaper? I tried to understand the terms for the international bundle and sim but I am struggling a bit. is it the same as the uk big bundle sim but with the exception that I can text another eu country? 

[Bambino]

@pt123456789 You could also download WhatsApp and get the people you know in the EU to do the same. If you use WiFi while using the app you can talk or text or even make video calls for free.:smileywink:

[MI5]

@pt123456789 if you want to change to international som you can keep your current sim.

Call 2202 for free or text INTSIM to 21300 to switch to International Sim.

If you buy the bolt on it's a £3 charge for the bolt on.

You will still pay 15p per text you send.

[pt123456789]

@MI5

thanks so it looks like the bolt on isn't the most economical option here?

how does the int sim shape up? I read this

https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/sim-cards/uk-and-international-bundle

but it doesn't state what the upfront costs are? can I put £10 on this international sim? and what would that get me? if I understand this right (I have probably misunderstood),afaik my current big bundle of £10 only comes with £1 standard credit along with the 1000 texts, free call allowance and data. would this mean then that I get charged the international rate per text taken out of that £1 credit if I were to text to sweden. and if I text to uk I use the allocated 1000 texts?

@Bambino

yea I am considering this, just depends on whether the other person finds this a suitable way to conversate. might not be an option due to complications. I would prefer to text if I can.

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

@pt123456789 

You just use your credit to pay for calls and texts.

For Sweden, the charges are:

So your £10 will get you 66 texts if credit not used on anything else.

You also get 3000 O2 texts and 100MB data included.

All info here https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/sim-cards/international-sim

[pt123456789]

@MI5

thanks for your help, I think I know what my options with o2 are now.

[MI5]

You're welcome.