MSE 3 PAYG workaround

BarkingMad

k_man said:

Then you should be able to add an eSIM for data.
Lots to choose from:

https://esimdb.com/usa

https://esims.io/countries/united-states

Many of the providers offer eSIMs covering multiple countries, and data with long expiry.
E.g. BNESIM E7 covers 100 + countries, most of Europe, US and includes UK (so you test before you go!)

And keep your main SIM/contract as is, without compromising the package just for a few weeks foreign data.

Thanks k_man,

Looking at the BNESIM E7, my understadning is that I'd get an eSIM and then add different packages/data plans, e.g. one for USA, one for Greece. iMessage and FaceTime are not data products looking at the eSIM setup procedure. I'd probably need to install another app, we e.g. whatsapp, in order to message others.

There are call products which would allow calls to be made to other BNE users or anyone else but receiving calls from non BNE users would not be possible.

Is this correct?

k_man

The BNESIM e7 eSIM covers all 107 countries listed.
Each of there different eSIMs cover different combinations of countries.
You can add multiple packages, but that is unlikely to be needed.
I added a one-off 1GB E7 for about £3, to use in UK just in case I need mobile data in a data black spot with my current provider.
BNESIM do appear to want to provide other messaging services via their app, but these do appear to be limited to other BNE users (unless you add a call plan).
I don't think you even need to install their app, to just use the eSIM.

For clarity, I am not recommending BNESIM specifically, they are just an example of an option, and look to have good deals currently.

The best deals do change, but getting an eSIM from another provider is very quick (a couple of minutes), and, at least on Android (for handsets that support eSIM, not many do) you can have multiple eSIM installed, and enable the one you want to use.
I have also used others, including Ubigi, Knowroaming, RedTeaGo albeit all with low data options, just in case.

iMessage and Facetime use data so should work fine on a data only connection (albeit iMessage can fall back to SMS if sending to a non iDevice user.

BarkingMad

k_man said:

The BNESIM e7 eSIM covers all 107 countries listed.
Each of there different eSIMs cover different combinations of countries.
You can add multiple packages, but that is unlikely to be needed.
I added a one-off 1GB E7 for about £3, to use in UK just in case I need mobile data in a data black spot with my current provider.
BNESIM do appear to want to provide other messaging services via their app, but these do appear to be limited to other BNE users (unless you add a call plan).
I don't think you even need to install their app, to just use the eSIM.

For clarity, I am not recommending BNESIM specifically, they are just an example of an option, and look to have good deals currently.

The best deals do change, but getting an eSIM from another provider is very quick (a couple of minutes), and, at least on Android (for handsets that support eSIM, not many do) you can have multiple eSIM installed, and enable the one you want to use.
I have also used others, including Ubigi, Knowroaming, RedTeaGo albeit all with low data options, just in case.

iMessage and Facetime use data so should work fine on a data only connection (albeit iMessage can fall back to SMS if sending to a non iDevice user.

Thank you for the response. I'll take a look around.

Re FaceTime/iMessage step 9 in the set-up guide https://www.bnesim.com/support-how-to-install-bne-esim-on-your-iphone/ says keep your local provider - hence my comment. I'm guessing FT/iM use my phone number for the "contact" and BNESIM wouldn't have a phone number.

k_man

Not sure about the iMessage Facetime stuff then as I don't use those

bawbee

 Not too sure if this is best place to post.but thought there might be interest in my experience in getting an unused credit refund relating to my 3 PAYG account. Recent hefty price increases have prompted me to move to another provider. Martin has advised that any request for a refund must be made by 17th July.
 Yesterday evening I followed the advice given and contacted 3 by phone. What followed was both tortuous and frustrating. The first call handler I spoke to professed to have no knowledge of any such refund scheme and after a lengthy conversation passed me over to those staff who dealt with complaints. To my consternation the 'complaints lady', even after I think, having consulted at least one colleague, also denied the existence of the credit refund availability to PAYG customers. She did, however, after a further lengthly chat, agree to look further into the matter and promised to phone back. She phoned this morning with an admission that I was indeed entitled to a repayment of credit and that this would be paid into my bank account.
 The sum involved was not large but it concerns me that staff seem to be so poorly informed and that many other customers have accepted the refusal to give refunds to which they are entitled.
 My experience makes it unlikely that I will ever return to 3.
  

k_man

BarkingMad said:

k_man said:

Then you should be able to add an eSIM for data.
Lots to choose from:

https://esimdb.com/usa

https://esims.io/countries/united-states

Many of the providers offer eSIMs covering multiple countries, and data with long expiry.
E.g. BNESIM E7 covers 100 + countries, most of Europe, US and includes UK (so you test before you go!)

And keep your main SIM/contract as is, without compromising the package just for a few weeks foreign data.

Thanks k_man,

Looking at the BNESIM E7, my understadning is that I'd get an eSIM and then add different packages/data plans, e.g. one for USA, one for Greece. iMessage and FaceTime are not data products looking at the eSIM setup procedure. I'd probably need to install another app, we e.g. whatsapp, in order to message others.

There are call products which would allow calls to be made to other BNE users or anyone else but receiving calls from non BNE users would not be possible.

Is this correct?

Just looked at this again, and you are right, you would need to add data for each country (apologies, as I only use for UK), albeit is still cheapish per country.

BarkingMad

k_man said:

Just looked at this again, and you are right, you would need to add data for each country (apologies, as I only use for UK), albeit is still cheapish per country.

So, I have an ESIM for Europe.

I'm guessing I need to do this on my Iphone to ensure I don't roam on my UK/Primary plan, but will still be able to receive calls and text to my UK number (for free) whilst I am outside the UK, and use data from my "Travel" plan

Settings->Mobile Data->Mobile Data and make sure my "Travel" plan is selected.

Settings->Mobile Data: Default Voice Line. Ensure it is my UK/Primary plan.

Settings->Mobile Data:

                            DataPlans: For the UK/Primary, ensure  "Data roaming is off", but the plan is "active/on"

                            DataPlans: For the "Travel", ensure "Data roaming is off" (because the Esim will be "local" when I am outside the UK), and the plan is "active/on"

Does this make sense?