Using mobile abroad

grannybroon

I am going abroad on Monday and I need to receive one or two calls from folk. I am with 02 PAYG and don't usually have a problem receiving a network when abroad. What code do they dial before my mobile number to contact me? Is it the country I am in or is it the GB international code.

A quick reply would be much appreciated.

GB

siamese0109

They can just use your normal number and it will come through to you. They will pay the usual cost of a uk mobile call and if they have free minutes it will come out of that. You will also be charged for picking the call up in whichever country you're in. :beer:

Inactive

siamese0109 wrote: »

They will pay the usual cost of a uk mobile call and if they have free minutes it will come out of that.

Are you sure about that? .. I thought that there was a surcharge for calling abroad.

siamese0109

Sure as I can be! I regularly call english mobiles in spain and it comes from my inclusive minutes.

grannybroon

Thank you both for the information. So long as they dial the UK international code plus my number they should get me?

GB

siamese0109

They don't even need the +44 ! They can just use your UK number without the prefix. If for some reason you want them to use it don't forget that you have to lose the first 0 from your number so 07777 777777 becomes +447777 777777. Also hheck what O2 charge you for receiving before you go and if they have any offers that would decrease your costs. :beer:

Jon_01

Bear in mine if your on payg, YOU get charged for receiving the call. If you run out of credit you won't get any calls !

Inactive

siamese0109 wrote: »

Sure as I can be! I regularly call english mobiles in spain and it comes from my inclusive minutes.

But because they charge from your inclusive minutes, doesn't mean that they are not applying a surcharge.

Calling on a Pay as you Go incurs a surcharge to call abroad.

Best advice is for the OP to check with the callers Mobile Operator.

siamese0109

From Martin's article above@

It's cheaper to receive than to call.

In general it's much cheaper to receive a call than make one. So if you're calling friends or family when abroad, ask them to call you back. They'll just pay the standard rate for calling a UK mobile.

And from another website:

Calling a UK mobile that is abroad

If your friend is abroad, you’re in the UK and you really need to get hold of them, you can call their mobile (provided they have roaming set up to receive calls) and the rate you will pay to make the call will be the same as though they were in the UK. However, when abroad, you have to pay to receive calls so your friend might not appreciate receiving a call that costs them £1 or so per minute (rates vary but they’re always very expensive) so only call if it’s urgent and a text won’t suffice.
If you’re abroad with your friend and lose them on the beach and need to call to find out where they are, you’ll have to pay your network’s roaming charges and your friend will also have to pay to receive the call – so it’s best if you just try hard not to lose each other.

grannybroon

Thank you again. I am aware of costs with 02 PAYG but these calls are vital and I am happy to bare them. Just needed to know about the international codes.

GB

redux

Inactive wrote: »

But because they charge from your inclusive minutes, doesn't mean that they are not applying a surcharge.

Calling on a Pay as you Go incurs a surcharge to call abroad.

Best advice is for the OP to check with the callers Mobile Operator.

Please stop adding confusion by guessing things you don't know; this is completely untrue.

The cost to call to a UK mobile, or coming from contract inclusive minutes, is not affected by where the destination phone is in the world.
_

For the OP:

O2's roaming fees in Europe are 18 pence a minute incoming, 35 pence a minute outgoing.

If you'll make or receive quite a few calls, there is an add-on option called My Europe Extra, costing £10 a month, which makes incoming calls free and outgoing a bit cheaper at 25 pence a minute.

If it's Spain you're going to, there is Single Country - Spain, which is the same call rates as My Europe Extra, but costs only £5 a month

I think it can take a couple of days for add-ons to be applied, so if you're interested I'd call about it early tomorrow. Get a promise when it will happen, and if it turns up a bit later you might ask when you get home for a part refund of the call charges.

If you're going outside Europe, roaming fees are higher, and it could be worth getting a local SIM card (phone needs to be unlocked) and people using cheap calls providers to reach you - see MSE Callchecker.