In Germany for 3-4 months; Strict application of free EU roaming policies?

thefirs

An acquaintance will be in Germany 3+ months, and although she has previously used a local sim it appears that there are now hurdles over topups which she finds difficult to handle.

She has no need of data, just calls and sms, so there are lots of potential EU inclusive roaming possibilities to choose from including her Tesco sim but I pointed out that many providers apply a 30-day limit and may apply a daily charge or swingeing roaming rates after that period has passed.  I note that 1pmobile has a policy of assessing the amount of allowance that has been used abroad viz-a-viz UK during their 120 day topup interval. Has anyone experience of the actual application of this policy, or suggestions for any other provider that does not have a strictly applied regime of "31 days and you're out"?

eDicky

The fair usage inclusive EU roaming period is usually 2-3 months, depending on the network, some may be only 30 days. However I suspect that such restrictions are hard to actually implement and I have roamed continously in EU on various UK networks far in excess of their fair usage policies without any interruption by them.

What are the top up hurdles..?

savergrant

Will the calls be to UK numbers or to German numbers?
If mainly calling back to UK lebara could be worth a look as I think it is only data which they compare UK and roaming usage. But they have a limit of international minutes and do not offer free texts to non-uk numbers.

thefirs

eDicky said:

The fair usage inclusive EU roaming period is usually 2-3 months, depending on the network, some may be only 30 days. However I suspect that such restrictions are hard to actually implement and I have roamed continously in EU on various UK networks far in excess of their fair usage policies without any interruption by them.

What are the top up hurdles..?

The previously used German sim had been topped up via retail outlets but they are are now exclusively online. Paranoid about use of payment card online...sigh.

eDicky

thefirs said:

eDicky said:

The fair usage inclusive EU roaming period is usually 2-3 months, depending on the network, some may be only 30 days. However I suspect that such restrictions are hard to actually implement and I have roamed continously in EU on various UK networks far in excess of their fair usage policies without any interruption by them.

What are the top up hurdles..?

The previously used German sim had been topped up via retail outlets but they are are now exclusively online. Paranoid about use of payment card online...sigh.

Sigh indeed - chargeback facilities are available regardless of transaction location. She should bear in mind that if there's a need to be contactable locally by calls/sms, international tariff would be incurred by a German party to a UK number which they may not find acceptable.