Phone not receiving texts while travelling out of country

[ndwg2]

I am in Ethiopia and I bought a small boost, which expired. However, my phone is now not receiving any texts or calls. I need these for security transactions that get through my phone, which means all my other security controlled functions are locked. 

I assumed I could just renew my boost but it not obvious how. If I turn on my Wifi, is blocks the EE signal. If I go EE signal, there is nothing.

Help! 

[XRaySpeX]

@ndwg2 : Which boost did you buy?

Can you make calls and texts?

Are you on contract or PAYG?

[ndwg2]

I bought a small data boost for only 22MB because that the only option available in Ethiopia. The boost still seems to be present and implies there 15MB left. How when I try to buy more, it tells my turn off my wifi and then I receive no signal at all. I chatting here on my laptop. 

However, I cannot make and nor receive calls or texts. I am using WhatsApp to communicate with my colleagues here and at home in the UK, but my EE phone functionally does not work. I am seeing this most hard by not receiving verification texts to get access to my office or other accounts. When I enter a secure account it sends a text, which I do not receive and I cannot get into my account. 

I am on a contract.

I was wondering whether I might be able to change security verification for the different accounts, but do not know how. It would seem easier to fix the problem with EE.

[XRaySpeX]

As 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 add-on doesn't of itself activate roaming on your a/c.

Often just rebooting the phone is the simple remedy. Also try selecting a network manually rather than auto. Otherwise login to your MyEE account online & go to Menu > Account Settings > Parental and Data Controls > Roaming Abroad and also Call Abroad and Premium Rate. They will show as ticked if roaming and calling abroad is activated. If not ticked, can you activate these settings?

If you can't enable the Roaming Abroad and the Call Abroad & Premium Rate settings of your online MyEE, you will need to call CS. Try calling CS on the Freephone no. in my sig. via Skype over WiFi. It should be free.

[bristolian]

If your phone is connected to a local network in Ethiopia, then it should be able to receive text messages FOC.

Does your phone show coverage of a local network?