topic Re: Can’t receive any SMS aboard in Mobile Services

Can’t receive any SMS aboard

thhh2318 — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 22:05:37 GMT

I’m in HK now, and I have no idea why I can’t receive any SMS message which cause me a big problem of logging in account. Please help me!!!!

Re: Can’t receive any SMS aboard

bristolian — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 22:12:55 GMT

Your ability to get coverage abroad (which calls, texts & mobile data rely on) is dependent on roaming being activated - which allows your phone to connect to foreign networks.

On PAYG, this is auto-enabled once your phone is used in the UK first.
On pay-monthly, this needs to be enabled manually - usually by texting ROAMING to 150 before leaving the UK. Did you do this?

If you are on pay-monthly and now find yourself abroad without having enabled roaming, your only recourse will be to contact CS to request it activated. You can either contact +44 7953 966150 from another working phone, or +44 800 9566000 using a web-calling app such as Skype over WiFi.

Re: Can’t receive any SMS aboard

thhh2318 — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 22:23:39 GMT

Ok I’ll try soon, just wanna confirm is it free for just receiving message
aboard?

Re: Can’t receive any SMS aboard

thhh2318 — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 22:28:43 GMT

Also, can I ask my friends help me call to it? Or it must be myself by my own phone number

Re: Can’t receive any SMS aboard

bristolian — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 22:34:20 GMT

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

Requesting roaming activation, in common with any other account change, requires the account holder or someone with third party authority over your account.

Receiving SMS is free globally.

Re: Can’t receive any SMS aboard

XRaySpeX — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 02:08:13 GMT

Can you make calls & send texts?

Are you on contract or PAYG? Had you used that SIM for making calls or texts in UK before you left to go abroad?

If you are on contract, did you activate roaming on your EE a/c before you left UK by texting ROAMING to 150? Having a roaming billing add-on doesn't of itself activate roaming on your a/c. Having roaming activated on your EE a/c, not just on your device, is crucial to using your contract SIM abroad.

Often just rebooting the phone is the simple remedy. Also try selecting a network manually rather than auto.

Otherwise you need to call CS to get your roaming activated. Try calling CS on the Freephone no. in my sig. on Skype over WiFi. It should be free.