Best Mobile Network/Package for receiving calls abroad

donny-gal

I wonder if anyone can help me decide which way to jump. The phone isn't a problem as I have one and not bothered about anything too fancy.

I will be spending a lot of time in Europe (France/Spain) and need to know which if any is the best for receiving both calls and messages cost wise.

Many thanks.
DG

sarah1972

I travel to Greece frequently and the best way for me was to get a Greek pay as you go sim.

I don't know if the outgoing calls are that cheap but at least you dont pay for receiving calls or texts.

Anyone with any better suggestions would be a great help to me and the original post.

:j

Sid_Harper

The networks have all been forced to reduce their roaming charges by OFCOM recently and they are much of a muchness now.

donny-gal

Yes I suppose I could make my number P-A-Y-G and put a message on the answer phone with my new number? Do you get charges for voicemail on PAYG?
DG

sarah1972

donny-gal wrote: »

Yes I suppose I could make my number P-A-Y-G and put a message on the answer phone with my new number? Do you get charges for voicemail on PAYG?
DG

Good point, might be worth checking how much to retrieve voice messages.

Whatever you do, don't divert your contract mobile to the new one because you pay for it as if you were using your contract phone plus a divert fee!

donny-gal

Yes aware of that sarah - crafty of them isn't it. No I think my message would have to read something like, I am out of the country and can be reached on xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, please don't leave a message as I am unable to pick these up.

Thanks
DG

bravoseven

Hi Donny-Gal

You can also save your callers money on their calls to your Greek number using a dial-through number

eg. "I'm now in Greece, call me for 6p/min on 0844 xxx xxxx. When you hear the prompt, enter my number 0030 xxx xxx xxx"

sarah1972

donny-gal wrote: »

Yes aware of that sarah - crafty of them isn't it. No I think my message would have to read something like, I am out of the country and can be reached on xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, please don't leave a message as I am unable to pick these up.

Thanks
DG

So crafty! They get us every way they can don't they.

Maybe someone on the forum has really researched this and have a comparison list? Someone mentioned to me about getting a sim from the internet thats called 0044 but again is it cheaper?

Come on guys please help me and donny-gal out

Sid_Harper

There is a thread where I posted about 0044 - it's free to receive calls abroad in many countries and it's an Isle of Man 079 mobile no. so should be included in most priceplans for people calling your mobile no from the UK and a reasonable price from a landline. You *may* even be able to get away with forwarding your existing no. onto it...

Try searching for 0044 (click search at the top)

redux

Even with the new Eurotariff introduction, it's still possible to find cheaper ways, even with options from the main networks, like Vodafone Passport or O2's My Europe Extra, both available on pay as you go as well as contract, or with global or local SIMs.

Read Martin's roaming article and its discussion thread

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=534889

There's more on whether Isle of Man numbers come from inclusive minutes on the previous discussion thread, plus some other possible points of interest

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=231354

The balance of relative costs will depend on other stuff like whether you expect people calling you to assume the cost of foreign calls or whether you want to set up some diversion yourself.

I'd suggest looking into callback services such as Vyke or some of the Betamax VoIP brands. Also, there are some interesting add-on options like Orange France has so-called infinis unlimited packages, or both SFR France and Vodafone Spain have up to 60 minutes for the price of 1, which could be used with a callthrough access number.

Which UK network are you on at the moment?