Mobile phones abroad....

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by exiled, Aug 11, 2023.

  1. exiled

    exiled Well-Known Member

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    In October we're off on hols and my network, 3 charge exorbitant fees in our destination. Now, I know when we get there I can buy one of the local sim cards but with my phone being under contract and locked, I guess it won't work.
    Is there a way round this, other than going to dodgy Dave on the market who unlocks phones. If that is the only way, are there dangers to this, like losing stuff off the phone?
    Ta
     
  2. JamDrop

    JamDrop Well-Known Member

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    You don’t need to go to dodgy Dave, you just text a number. The law changed a while ago to say everyone phone operator must unlock phones for free. You won’t lose anything off it. Let me just find the number…
     
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  3. BrunNer

    BrunNer Well-Known Member

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    exiled likes this.
  4. JamDrop

    JamDrop Well-Known Member

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    If you bought your phone after 2013 from Three it won’t be locked as they don’t lock them anymore.
     
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  5. Micky Finn

    Micky Finn Well-Known Member

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    My advice? Just don't use it. Have a week off. Enjoy the sunshine, read a book, talk to each other. If an emergency, then just take the hit, otherwise just use the WiFi for the BBS and make the most of your holiday.
     
  6. exiled

    exiled Well-Known Member

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    Cheers, I've only had it a year, just thought they were if you were in a contract, excellent news! Guess I could test it by borrowing some else's sim.
     
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  7. JamDrop

    JamDrop Well-Known Member

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    You could but you won’t need to.
     
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  8. JamDrop

    JamDrop Well-Known Member

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    My phone goes in the safe each morning and only comes out in the evenings when we’re back in the hotel for the night.
     
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  9. Mr C

    Mr C Well-Known Member

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    Great title for a song. Give me 10 minutes.. :cool:
     
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  10. tik

    tikey Active Member

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    We are with Tesco (O2) and go to Spain a lot and we are still on roaming. Only charge 25p if you send a photo. You get around that my using What’s App. Check with your Operator re roaming.
     
  11. Brush

    Brush Well-Known Member

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    Switch to GiffGaff, I get 20GB of data a month for £10 with an allowance 5GB of roaming a month at no extra cost.
     
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  12. exiled

    exiled Well-Known Member

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    Like the sentiment, but a week off from what? I don't do owt here :D.
    We're going for a month, as have friends out there and the missus phones her mum everyday. Wifi is notoriously slow. We are also new grandparents, so we have to keep in touch. And.....I'm hoping the firestick will still access our matches!
     
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  13. Brush

    Brush Well-Known Member

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    He's with 3 so checking with them rob-dogs is a waste of time. I left them when my free roaming contract ran out last year and their offers were shockingly bad with regard to roaming.
     
  14. Mr C

    Mr C Well-Known Member

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    I told my wife it was a business trip..
    Aw now you’re worried.. :D
     
  15. exiled

    exiled Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I now realise my error, I'll be leaving when the contract ends.
     
  16. Le Gessien

    Le Gessien Well-Known Member

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    I'm with Vodaphone and I just buy a 8 or 15 day pass, costing €1 per day, which allows me to use my U.K. tariff. I've just spent 65 days at my house in Spain without touching the limits ( of limilitless calls, same for messages, and 25gig of data download per month ( which I haven't troubled) while watching the Port Vale game. I would expect thete to be deals out there similar...
     
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  17. Brush

    Brush Well-Known Member

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    My wife is with 3 till January unfortunately...
     
  18. leeupo

    leeupo Well-Known Member

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    Lebara or O2 both free roaming.
     
  19. Tob

    Tobys Knackers Well-Known Member

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    Where are you going?

    Most major destinationd will have 'packs' you can buy as others have said. We went to Turkey this year and I couldn't believe the cost for that. It was something like £5 a day plus £1 per 200meg of data - which would have run up a mental amount.

    I used a company called Holafly to buy an esim that gave me unlimited data. Not cheap, but worth it. Your phone would have to be compatible though.
     
  20. exiled

    exiled Well-Known Member

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    Seychelles, 3 claim it charges £6 per MB! So £1200 a day for 200MB. I thought it was a typo, but the woman on their "helpline" confirmed it, although she didn't really understand it.
    I'll do some research but likely to be Lebara or one of their local things, on first glance it'll be under £40 for unlimited anyway. Cheers all.
     

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