topic Re: Roaming and changing spending cap in Mobile Services

Roaming and changing spending cap

TheCeilingGhost — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 21:39:32 GMT

I made the mistake of not activating roaming on my PAYG sim before leaving the UK, my spending cap is a £0 so now I can’t text to activate it, and every forum post I’ve found telling me how to change my spending cap hasn’t worked. The settings to change my spending cap seem to not exist on both the website and mobile app, and I can’t call or text EE because my spending cap is £0. How to I fix this to activate roaming?

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

bristolian — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 21:52:37 GMT

A few bits not right here.

1: PAYG phones don't need roaming enabling, it's done automatically on first use in the UK. There is no other way to activate the facility

2: Pay-monthly phones need it enabling by texting ROAMING to 150 before leaving the UK. This unlocks access to foreign networks, and without it - you create a catch-22 situation which can only be resolved by contacting EE CS via another means.

Your spend cap will only be the issue if you have coverage of a foreign network, but are having specific problems using your phone for chargeable activity. If you don't have a connection to a local network, your issue is nothing to do with the spend cap, and everything to do with the roaming facility not being active.

With all this in mind, what exactly are your symptoms? And are you PAYG or pay-monthly?

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

TheCeilingGhost — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:08:25 GMT

I’m in a PAY monthly SIM card. I cannot send texts both on or off Wi-Fi in Germany. I also cannot find anything that will let me change the spending cap so that I can use chargeable activity. I want to get the 7 day roam like home addon but as I have no spending cap and seemingly no way to change it I can’t seem to get any messages through.

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

XRaySpeX — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:16:16 GMT

@TheCeilingGhost : This is confusing & contradictory.

PAYG doesn't have spending caps. Hence you can't find any settings for it.
PAYG doesn't need to have roaming activated as long as the SIM was used to make a call or text in the UK at some time.
Only PAYG goes in for the 7-day Roam like Home add-on.

So, just what is the problem? Are you really on PAYG?

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

bristolian — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:17:23 GMT

Does your phone show a connection to a local network in your host country? That is fundamental to resolving this.

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

TheCeilingGhost — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:17:42 GMT

Hi sorry I realised I’m on pay monthly. I’m not from the UK and very new to this system and thought PAYG and pay monthly were the same.
As soon as I entered Germany I got a message saying I would either need to pay daily/weekly or per minute to use data, but I cannot send text messages to do so. I know I have a spending cap because I set it up for £0, but can’t find where to change that.

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

TheCeilingGhost — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:18:57 GMT

Yea I believe so, currently it’s showing o2-de, and it was different when I was in France and Belgium earlier today.

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

bristolian — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:23:01 GMT

You do have a short time after posting to edit posts, avoiding the need for multiple short replies.

If you have coverage of a local network, then roaming is active and your issue could be the spend cap. Full details on amending this are at https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/manage-use/pay-monthly/set-up-and-manage-spend-cap

Within the EU, you have the choice of a daily £2.29 charge, or monthly £25 one.

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

XRaySpeX — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:24:12 GMT

Still contradictory. Only PAYG has the need to pay daily/weekly; contract doesn't. So if the Welcome msg offered you these you're on PAYG & can't possibly have a spend cap.

Did the Welcome msg mention replying 'ROAMEU1' or ROAMEU7' to pay daily/weekly for EU Roaming?

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

TheCeilingGhost — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:28:47 GMT

Yes I do believe spending cap is the problem, however even using the guide on how to find and change the spending cap, I cannot find any of those settings. Just to ensure that a 8.0 GB 30 day pack is a pay monthly SIM card. Someone else keeps responding thinking I might be on PAYG, but I genuinely don’t know anymore. The pay as you go vs monthly sims confuse me a lot.

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

TheCeilingGhost — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:29:44 GMT

If this is the case, how do I correct whatever is preventing me from sending text messages?

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

bristolian — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:30:53 GMT

@TheCeilingGhost wrote:

Someone else keeps responding thinking I might be on PAYG, but I genuinely don’t know anymore.

All the replies to this thread are visible to all users.

PAYG is entirely a pre-payment based system where you topup as & when, and can only spend the credit you have. Pay-monthly is a contract based system where you receive a monthly bill in arrears.

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

TheCeilingGhost — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:39:57 GMT

Ok then I’m definitely on PAYG

i still however can’t send text messages, which means I can’t activate a 7 day roam like home add on

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

XRaySpeX — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:41:52 GMT

Answer my previous Q & I'll take it further. I can't deal with it with so much uncertainty.

@TheCeilingGhost wrote:

Just to ensure that a 8.0 GB 30 day pack is a pay monthly SIM card.

It just isn't! A 30-day 8GB pack is something only PAYG has!

You are definitely are on PAYG & you definitely don't have a spend cap.

Now we've established you're on PAYG, had you used that PAYG SIM for making calls or texts in UK before you left to go abroad? EE PAYG SIMs need 1st activating on EE's home UK network before they can be used abroad. If it wasn't you can't now use it until you return to UK.

What does texting AL to 150 from your no. fully report verbatim (it is free)?

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

bristolian — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:44:48 GMT

By having a connection to local networks (referenced in a previous post), I think roaming has been proven active.

The issue is a billing one of some kind. My instinct is a lack of credit, but I am not a PAYG specialist.

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

XRaySpeX — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:46:03 GMT

I'm not any ol' user. I'm the user that identified you are getting msgs & responses that can only be given to PAYG users!

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

TheCeilingGhost — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:46:15 GMT

Ok, I apologise for wasting your time, I’ve resolved the issue myself. Turns out the number that sends the country updates telling you what to text back for roam like home add one is in fact not 150. I feel like an idiot, but everything is working fine now. Thank you for your help.

Re: Roaming and changing spending cap

XRaySpeX — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:48:11 GMT

Thanks! You're welcome 🙂 ! Glad I could be of assistance & trust it is now sorted.