Is there anyway to automatically forward a text?

[COMPLAINTbnh]

OK so here's the thing....I'm off to Canada for a prolonged visit and will need to have a mobile while I'm there.  To use my normal phone and number while there will cost, I believe, £25 for each week and then stupid money for each text or call.  So I can't afford to use my ee sim/number as that will cost me hundreds!   

I know that as soon as I land I can get a Bell sim with tons of data/calls/texts for about £15 for a month but obviously that will have a different number which is a bit of a pain.  

So is there a way I can set up automatic forwarding on my ee number to whatever the Canadian one will be to avoid being charged for anything??  Maybe it can be done via Whatsapp or something so the international bit is irrelevant?   I would need to be able to set anything up online, not on my mobile, as I won't be accessing my ee sim once I get there.

[ShadowCreek]

If you add Roaming for £25/week then there is no “stupid money” to pay for incoming calls and texts from anywhere, and calls/texts back to the UK. 

If you’re taking a prolonged visit then it may be best to discuss with customer services as you might be better off changing your plan to one that includes roaming in Canada.  EE have some plans that will cater to this need, with preferential pricing if you also have broadband with BT/EE. 

If you need in-country calling and SMS in Canada then you likely do need to get yourself a local sim for those purposes.  Depending on your handset you may be able to run them both in parallel so you have all needs covered.

[bristolian · Accepted solution]

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@COMPLAINTbnh wrote:

OK so here's the thing....I'm off to Canada for a prolonged visit and will need to have a mobile while I'm there.  To use my normal phone and number while there will cost, I believe, £25 for each week and then stupid money for each text or call.  So I can't afford to use my ee sim/number as that will cost me hundreds!   

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This is a popular misunderstanding.

To enable the roaming facility - which allows your phone to connect to foreign networks - is free of charge. This is done by texting ROAMING to 150 before leaving the UK, and the facility remains active unless you explicitly request it removed, and there's absolutely no gain in doing so.

The £25 weekly charge you refer to, is for the usage of your UK allowances in any eligible country - in other words, calling &texting "in-country" and back to the UK is inclusive with thus no additional charge. Receiving calls is covered by the pass thus inclusive, receiving texts is always free regardless of add-on.

Having said all this, much depends what you mean by a "prolonged" visit - EE is a UK network and roaming is intended for those taking short trips abroad, not long-term residents. UK callers will continue to call your UK number as normal, with the incoming-international leg covered by the roaming pass. If you're likely to receive many calls from Canadian numbers, they will have to call a UK number thus be an international call - the workaround for this, is to have a Canadian number issued by a Canadian operator.

[XRaySpeX]

@COMPLAINTbnh : Even if you forward a call from your UK no. to a Canadian no. it still counts as a call but will be covered under the £25/ week roaming pass.

However this Q is moot as you appear to be labouring under a misconception that this roaming pass doesn't cover your calls & texts, both outgoing & incoming.