topic Re: text message roaming confusion in Roaming

text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:09:01 GMT

I'm now based in Canada, but have kept my EE PayG number active for return trips to the UK. When those trips were going to be so far apart that I risked 'hibernation', I'd simply activate my EE SIM, turn off my Canadian SIM & WiFi, and send a chargeable SMS to my Canadian number.

In the past, that worked perfectly. But lately I've been unable to send SMS texts from my EE number, in Canada. Attempting just produces a 'Not Delivered' error (and they are clearly trying to go out as SMS - not iMessage)

I still get the usual EE 'Welcome to Canada' text, showing PAYG rates for calls and texts. And voice calling works, so I can still generate the necessary 'chargeable' activity to keep the account active.

But I'd really like to understand what's now preventing me from sending regular SMS texts in this context - especially since it always worked fine in the past. Thanks!

Re: text message roaming confusion

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:19:46 GMT

Does the same happen when you send a text to yourself?

Re: text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:40:14 GMT

Yes, I am trying to send the SMS to my Canadian number, while connected via my EE one (and Canadian eSIM turned off).

The 'not delivered' error message comes via EE, and the SMS also never arrives at my Canadian number.

Re: text message roaming confusion

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:46:19 GMT

No, I'm asking you to send a text from your UK no. to your UK no.

Re: text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:55:10 GMT

Ah - sorry I misunderstood!

I'm afraid I can't try that right now, but I should be able to do so later this evening. Will post an update then.

Re: text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:12:44 GMT

Got a chance to try earlier than expected:

- only EE SIM active, Wifi-off, testing SMS (not iMessage) to UK number - and the same result: unable to send.

Fortunately, I can make a 'chargeable' phone call to keep the account 'active' - though it seems odd pay-per-use isn't working for SMS, but works fine for voice

Re: text message roaming confusion

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:53:04 GMT

When did you last top-up?

Re: text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:30:44 GMT

I either top up, or send a chargeable 'maintenance' text, every 5-6 months from my last activity. But I've accumulated quite a bit of credit, so lately I'm trying to mostly use the 'chargeable activity' method.

Re: text message roaming confusion

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:40:47 GMT

But when last did you top-up? I'm only interested in when you did this action, not how you use it.

You could try topping up now & see if these texts from your UK no. now work.

Re: text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:26:50 GMT

My last top-up was exactly 1 year ago - Feb 18, 2025. After that, I had an extended visit to the UK in March, and then some chargeable text activity in Canada about 5 months ago. And there's still lots of credit left in my account.

My understanding has always been that either topping up or doing something chargeable at least every 6 months would both have the same effect on keeping the account active. That's the way it seems to have been, for a number of years.

If that was wrong - i.e. if it's only top-ups that 'reset' the clock, rather than also chargeable activities - then the 'one year top-up anniversary' might, on the surface, appear to explain the problem.

And, in the absence of any other solution, I suppose I could top up a small additional amount, and see if it makes a difference. But ...I had no problem making a chargeable phone call today - and verified that my balance was reduced accordingly. In other words, only sending SMS messages has failed to work..

Re: text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:51:58 GMT

Update: I just did a small top-up - which was properly acknowledged - and then tried again to send SMS. I tried first to my Canadian number, then to my UK number.

The result: In both cases, the system responded with the usual 'Message Send Failure' and 'Not Delivered' status. Very frustrating....

Re: text message roaming confusion

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:01:16 GMT

Ah, a 'Message Send Failure'. You never mentioned that until now.

For sending texts, ensure your phone's Messaging app has the Message Centre no. setting for EE as +447958879879.

Re: text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:19:02 GMT

Apologies for not mentioning that part of the error message before - I was only focused on the 'Not Delivered' responses displaying directly within the messaging app.

re: Message Centre number - thanks for that info. Unfortunately I've unable to locate a setting for checking/entering that anywhere on my phone (iPhone, running iOS 26.2.1).

I don't think I've ever had to enter that info manually before, with either my UK or Canadian services - including when switching between them. I've always assumed that it was simply something the iOS messaging app negotiates in the background, once it connects to whichever network you're using.

Can you suggest where I might look for that in iOS, or any alternative ways to trouble shoot this further?

Thanks!

Steven

Re: text message roaming confusion

XRaySpeX — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:03:51 GMT

Don't think it's present on Apples.

Re: text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:17:19 GMT

Thanks for confirming that, and for your patient responses earlier too.

Unfortunately, I'm out of ideas how to troubleshoot this further. Since I'm not in the UK right now, a phone consult with EE is not practical - and I haven't been able to find info on the EE site about other online/email support options.

While it's not urgent now, it would be reassuring to get it sorted before I'm next in the UK, rather than arriving and finding that an important part of my service is still dysfunctional...

Re: text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:32:12 GMT

I'm still trying to get pay-per-use SMS working again in Canada on my iPhone (latest iOS).

I've recently topped up, and also made a chargeable call. So I'm not currently at risk of losing my number (which I've had for over 25 years, and keep specifically for return trips to the UK).

But an occasional SMS has long been the simplest, lowest cost, way to keep that number active between trips.

On the advice of a local (non-EE) tech, I tried toggling data-switching and RCS messaging on and off in various combos - but that no had effect on this new 'message send failure'.

Is it possible to call 150 toll-free from Canada for EE tech support? I'd rather not have to wait until I'm next in the UK to try to resolve this.

Thanks.

Re: text message roaming confusion

bristolian — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:45:33 GMT

@sjn19 wrote:
Is it possible to call 150 toll-free from Canada for EE tech support? I'd rather not have to wait until I'm next in the UK to try to resolve this.

Only if you can find a web-calling app that allows calls to UK 0800 numbers (+44 800 9566000) for free. If you find one, please post back here with the details.

Otherwise, if there was a way, you'd have been advised of it in previous posts. Perhaps I'm missing something obvious here, but you mentioned previously that voice calling works. There's your answer to incurring chargeable activity and thus resetting your hibernation clock.

Re: text message roaming confusion

sjn19 — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 19:06:32 GMT

@bristolian wrote:
@sjn19 wrote:
Is it possible to call 150 toll-free from Canada for EE tech support? I'd rather not have to wait until I'm next in the UK to try to resolve this.
Only if you can find a web-calling app that allows calls to UK 0800 numbers (+44 800 9566000) for free. If you find one, please post back here with the details.

Thanks for the suggestion - will see what I can find, and report.

Perhaps I'm missing something obvious here, but you mentioned previously that voice calling works. There's your answer to incurring chargeable activity and thus resetting your hibernation clock.

Yes, I'm aware of that as my 'fall back' option. But if possible, I'd prefer to continue to use chargeable SMS, for its lower cost (and simplicity). And, of course, I'm now also concerned about whether SMS will work properly when I do next return to the UK.