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Mobile phone options

Posted: Thu Sep 2, 2021 4:49pm
19 replies401 views9 members subscribed
Robb

Posts: 28

6 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 30 Jul 2021

Hello

I am only in Torrevieja for a few months this winter but I wondered what SIM cards people were using and what the best options are for mobile phone use in the region

Rob

paulsav

Posted: Fri Sep 3, 2021 11:40am

paulsav

Super helpful member

Posts: 1366

1009 helpful points

Location: Villena

Joined: 4 Dec 2015

Posted: Fri Sep 3, 2021 11:40am

Hi Rob

I use my UK Tesco mobile for use here and thankfully still has its Home to Home service in use after Brexit. We usually stay 3months except last year much longer due to ferry cancellations and they never once stopped me using it, so try your own UK provider and see if they too sti offer free roaming first. 10, yrs ago before free roaming I purchased a Hits sim in Spain (website is excellent and you can if needed top up online) and still use it as we have a house alarm with a Hits sim in too so if necessary the alarm phones my mobile sim if alerted. See if there's a Hits agent in Torrevieja (website) and purchase there or I have seen Lobster also recommended. Hits uses Vodaphone so check area signal strength in area you are going to be but should think Torrevieja will have ample signal. 

Regards 

Pauline 

DavenJules

Posted: Fri Sep 3, 2021 12:16pm

DavenJules

Helpful member

Posts: 328

179 helpful points

Location: Monóvar

Joined: 1 Dec 2019

Posted: Fri Sep 3, 2021 12:16pm

paulsav wrote on Fri Sep 3, 2021 11:40am:

Hi Rob

I use my UK Tesco mobile for use here and thankfully still has its Home to Home service in use after Brexit. We usually stay 3months except last year much longer due to ferry cancellations and they never once stopped me using it, so try your own UK provider and see if they too sti offer free roam...

...ing first. 10, yrs ago before free roaming I purchased a Hits sim in Spain (website is excellent and you can if needed top up online) and still use it as we have a house alarm with a Hits sim in too so if necessary the alarm phones my mobile sim if alerted. See if there's a Hits agent in Torrevieja (website) and purchase there or I have seen Lobster also recommended. Hits uses Vodaphone so check area signal strength in area you are going to be but should think Torrevieja will have ample signal. 

Regards 

Pauline 

Hi Rob - we use the same as Pauline, UK Tesco as a lot of ID is tied to the number plus Lobster locally for SIP etc, not had any roaming charges. We tend to use on-net WhatsApp a lot for fam. No questions being asked at the UK end and have been here a year.

Hope this helps.

Dave 'n Jules

JanetW67

Posted: Fri Sep 3, 2021 1:02pm

JanetW67

Helpful member

Posts: 353

118 helpful points

Location: Villamartin

Joined: 8 Oct 2020

Posted: Fri Sep 3, 2021 1:02pm

I have kept my UK number but moved to Lebara to keep all my ID things.  I also have a Lobster sim for my spanish number.  Good thing about Lobster is you can park your number when you are back in the UK and not have to pay for it.  

One thing to think about is that some of the UK mobile companies are going to start charging for data roaming from January 2022.

Robb

Posted: Fri Sep 3, 2021 1:57pm

Robb

Original Poster

Posts: 28

6 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 30 Jul 2021

Posted: Fri Sep 3, 2021 1:57pm

paulsav wrote on Fri Sep 3, 2021 11:40am:

Hi Rob

I use my UK Tesco mobile for use here and thankfully still has its Home to Home service in use after Brexit. We usually stay 3months except last year much longer due to ferry cancellations and they never once stopped me using it, so try your own UK provider and see if they too sti offer free roam...

...ing first. 10, yrs ago before free roaming I purchased a Hits sim in Spain (website is excellent and you can if needed top up online) and still use it as we have a house alarm with a Hits sim in too so if necessary the alarm phones my mobile sim if alerted. See if there's a Hits agent in Torrevieja (website) and purchase there or I have seen Lobster also recommended. Hits uses Vodaphone so check area signal strength in area you are going to be but should think Torrevieja will have ample signal. 

Regards 

Pauline 

Thanks to Dave & Jules, Pauline, JanetW67 and others ....

Wow!  That is a great reply. More helpful than you know.

Lobster does look like a good option

I use Virgin Mobile which piggy-backs on 02.  But a Tesco sym, PAYG may be an option also.

Very helpful. Thanks.

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Purple gran

Posted: Wed Sep 8, 2021 11:20am

Purple gran

Helpful member

Posts: 325

379 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 23 Jan 2018

Posted: Wed Sep 8, 2021 11:20am

Hi

I’ve used my 3 mobile since moving to live in France in 2012, I’ve benefited from a tariff where I pay as I go, but it’s been collected in arrears by direct debit.

Unfortunately they’ve now caught up with me as I am breaching their fair usage policy of not using the phone abroad for more than two months at a time, and my service will be discontinued on the 17th of this month.  I believe this is a policy shared by all UK providers, and that post Brexit all those of us using UK phones will be affected.

Having researched, it seems that an orange payg sim is the most economical way forward.  My husband has had one of these since coming to Spain in 2018, he puts 10€ credit on about every six months.  Most of our phone usage is on the home WiFi and I suspect this is now true for the majority of people, so a contract which has a monthly charge is unnecessary.

mellor7

Posted: Thu Sep 9, 2021 7:38pm

Posts: 60

29 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 13 Jun 2020

Posted: Thu Sep 9, 2021 7:38pm

Purple gran wrote on Wed Sep 8, 2021 11:20am:

Hi

I’ve used my 3 mobile since moving to live in France in 2012, I’ve benefited from a tariff where I pay as I go, but it’s been collected in arrears by direct debit.

Unfortunately they’ve now caught up with me as I am breaching their fair usage policy of not using the phone abroad for more than two months at a time, and my service will be discontinued on the 17th of this month.  I believe this is a policy shared by all UK providers, and that post Brexit all those of us using UK phones will be affected.

Having researched, it seems that an orange payg sim is the most economical way forward.  My husband has had one of these since coming to Spain in 2018, he puts 10€ credit on about every six months.  Most of our phone usage is on the home WiFi and I suspect this is now true for the majority of people, so a contract which has a monthly charge is unnecessary.

I also have an Orange PAYG for about 10 years now, and only need to buy 5€ of credit every 6 months to keep my number. As you say, you can use your phone through the home wifi for free.

Purple gran

Posted: Thu Sep 9, 2021 10:00pm

Purple gran

Helpful member

Posts: 325

379 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 23 Jan 2018

Posted: Thu Sep 9, 2021 10:00pm

For info,

I bought my new sim today.  My husband needs only 5€ as does Mellor7, and that just gives calls and sms, and needs renewing every six months.  Orange notified him that the six months was up.

For myself I’ve bought a sim which also allows roaming and internet at a cost of minimum 10€/month, which seems to compare well with the other operators.  It’s useful to have the internet option for when the family calls when we’re out and about.  
The sim can also be used in UK for about two months.

On the news today 3 is joining EE and vodafone in introducing £2 daily roaming charges, despite earlier assurances they had no plans to do this.

Ampstar

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 10:31am

Posts: 55

26 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 1 Jul 2019

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 10:31am

I too have been told by 3 that my service will end on 19th due to "unfair usage". I wonder if they will "unfairly charge" me until the date my contract would have ended?

I use Labara and for €20 per 28 days, I also get 20Gb of data (my home wifi is only 10Gb). Anything I do not use is rolled over to the following month. Recemption is very good (I live out in the sticks)

Robb

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 11:56am

Robb

Original Poster

Posts: 28

6 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 30 Jul 2021

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 11:56am

Ampstar wrote on Mon Sep 13, 2021 10:31am:

I too have been told by 3 that my service will end on 19th due to "unfair usage". I wonder if they will "unfairly charge" me until the date my contract would have ended?

I use Labara and for €20 per 28 days, I also get 20Gb of data (my home wifi is only 10Gb). Anything I do not use is rolled over to the following month. Recemption is very good (I live out in the sticks)...

...

Thank you @Ampstar - that is helpful and I shall investigate 

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