Texting the UK from Japan

[psychofishie]

Hi,

Before coming to Japan, I switched my EE pay monthly to pay as you go, which activated about a month after I got here. I was informed by EE staff that as long as I topped up, my number would remain active and I would be able to make texts and calls - at the international rate, of course. I have been topping up but I can't reply to any texts, which has become quite important as now my bank and other things require me to respond to texts for security questions. The EE website talks about 'updating roaming settings to allow international texts on your MyEE page', but so far, I can't find anything. 

It's getting quite difficult now so any information would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[Chris_B]

@psychofishie   Are you saying you switched from a contract to a PAYG customer when you wasn’t in the UK ?  If you are then unfortunately your sim will not work outside the uk yet as you can not do that on a roaming network you have to be connected to the EE network directly for this to work, you are then free to use the sim abroad. 

[psychofishie]

Ok, thank you.

I switched before I left, but the staff said it would take 30 days for it to carry over, by which point I was in Japan, and they also informed me that this wouldn't be an issue as I was using the same sim the whole time (I was on a sim only contract before I switched to PAYG)

That information is helpful, anyway, thanks. 

[XRaySpeX]

You asked EE to switch you to PAYG before you left UK but the switch didn't actually happen until you were in Japan. As the switch to PAYG actually occurred while you were abroad you can't now use it until you return to UK. EE PAYG SIMs need 1st activating on EE's home UK network. 

[psychofishie]

Okay, that's really helpful, thank you.

I wish this would have been made known to me before I decided to make the switch, as they left me with the impression that things would be smooth. 

[XRaySpeX]

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