Update from Australia & New Zealand (yes I know that's outside Europe, but this thread seems the best place to post this info for future reference).
Overall I would say Vodafone was mediocre for rates and service, including long hold times trying to reach CS to sign up for the right plan (yes, this is necessary even when using a prepaid SIM). In fact, if you don't think you will use 30 min, I would highly recommend you simply roam internationally with your local carrier if you have a GSM phone. Not worth the hassle of dealing with Vodafone unless you anticipate a lot of incoming calls (all free).
Vodafone, New Zealand:
Paid $35 for a SIM card that included a measly $5 call time (plus a $10 bonus if you register online). WARNING: If you don't call to activate a cheaper plan, you get charged $1+ per minute outgoing. The best plan for one-time or casual users was 49 cents per min (to cell) and $2 for 1 hour of calling time to any landline. Had to wait a long time to reach CS on the phone, but at least they were competent. Was never able to register online, the only way to activate online was via text message, which didn't work for me. Refills expire with 60 days. After $20 topoff card, total investment: $55.
Oof. Thanks for posting this -- I am heading to New Zealand and was just planning on getting the Vodafone SIM, but now I'm investigating elsewhere!
Is there a trend to make the pre-paid SIMs expire sooner? I could have sworn when I bought my O2 German SIM last year it had a one year expiration time on the credit but after just adding another 15 Euros I noticed the expiration is 6 months. Prepaidgsm.net still lists the validity at 12 months but when I pull up my account it's only good for 6 months. Fortunately I'm actually headed back that way in June but I'm not sure I'll go through the entire 15 Euros at that time.
Is there a trend to make the pre-paid SIMs expire sooner? I could have sworn when I bought my O2 German SIM last year it had a one year expiration time on the credit but after just adding another 15 Euros I noticed the expiration is 6 months. Prepaidgsm.net still lists the validity at 12 months but when I pull up my account it's only good for 6 months. Fortunately I'm actually headed back that way in June but I'm not sure I'll go through the entire 15 Euros at that time.
Yes, it's been this way for several years. This was one of the major reasons I changed my Orange France account from prepaid to regular subscription.
I THOUGHT that validity had actually ended in Germany due to some changes in laws about credits and expiration, at least that is what I found last December on ppgsm.com
Does anyone know if a German T-mobile Xtra card can be charged at a T-mobile store in the US? I tried to add some credit online, but it required a SMS for verification. I have no reception, so I'm trying to figure out how I can charge the SIM card before I get to Germany.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ez311
Does anyone know if a German T-mobile Xtra card can be charged at a T-mobile store in the US? I tried to add some credit online, but it required a SMS for verification. I have no reception, so I'm trying to figure out how I can charge the SIM card before I get to Germany.
I donīt know whether itīs possible to recharge in the U.S. (iīd rather expect a "NO")
But why bothering with an advance reload ???????
As soon you step your feet on german ground you can buy a reload almost everywhere (inside the airport at bookstores, etc. - even if youīre still airside - outside every gas station and supermarket sells reloads - one just needs to tell the seller for which network the reload is and how much you want to reload - usually 15 or 30 Eur) Thereīs no need to go to a T-Mobile store to buy a reload !
Also thereīs absolutely no need for an advance reload unless youīre close to deactivation deadline and you want to keep the number ...
Your airtime credit on your account is not forfeited - by law - (even if it was on hold after 6 months inactivity of the account) !!!
If you reload between the 6 months and the 12 months period the last airtime credit will be returned to you automaticly (should so...)!
If you exceed the 12 months deadline your account will be switched from "on hold" to "terminated" and also the number is lost. Then you can only apply for a refund of the remaining airtime (probably minus a service charge depending on the operator)
There has been a case at court regarding the refund of the airtime. Itīs just that the companies donīt return you the money voluntarily if you donīt ask ... ! ! !
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nmenaker
I THOUGHT that validity had actually ended in Germany due to some changes in laws about credits and expiration, at least that is what I found last December on ppgsm.com
Some (but not all) operators have changed the termination deadline of the SIM from 12 to 6 months (in case of no activity on the account) but that was not related to the case at court or any law.
So, one just needs to check the resp. company !
This thread is frustratingly helpful. Glad it got over that whole debate of better coverages and back to topic.
How much is a SIM card in Paris for the Orange thing? I saw something that said 30 euro. Is that correct?
I can buy one from RoamSimple for $19 and that sure sounds a heck of a lot better than 30 euro.
On the Orange web site a SIM card for the prepaid Mobicarte service is 15.00 .
I don't know anything about Roam Simple. If you go back a few messages and find the one I wrote about the Casino store at CDG, you can try calling them. They indeed have people who speak English.
But that Orange site is in French, which doesn't do much for me. The information in this thread is good, hard to find and a bit incomplete for what I'm asking. But based on 15 euro, I don't know why anyone would hassle with a language barrier (if they have one) and having to take time away from a trip to buy one on the ground at least for what I am talking about doing.
