Receiving calls while abroad and on PAYG

[moosaallawati]

Hi!

I am an existing EE customer. Recently I travelled abroad (Oman). Today I made the decision to stay here longer (at least 6 more months). I contacted EE on 150 to downgrade my plan: from Monthly, to a PAYG plan. Of course, I don't want to spend money without using the plan, and at the same time I want to keep hold of my UK contact number. However, over the coming weeks I am expecting a few calls fromt the UK; which I would prefer to answer.

1) Is it free to receive calls from the UK if my PAYG balance is zero?

2) If not, how much is it per minute / roughly?

3) Any suggestions to minimise costs?

Many thanks!

[XRaySpeX]

1st of all & of overriding importance, As it was switched to PAYG 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 before they can be used abroad. 

Anyway if it was possible:

1. No.
2. £1.80 / min
3. Get a local SIM.

[Chris_B]

@moosaallawati  you cannot change from a contract to a PAYG while abroad as the sim when it’s changed to a PAYG has to be used in the UK first.      You’ll only end up with no signal on the device should you try and do this.   This is because your on a roaming network and it’ll not activate as a  PAYG as it’s need to activate  first in order to connect to a roaming network. 

[moosaallawati]

Hey @XRaySpeX , and @Chris_B, thank you for your replies. Are you sure? I had a call this afternoon with 150 to make the downgrade, and the EE person told me that my plan will automatically change to PAYG from next month (when the current monthly plan is over). I was also told that I would be able to top up from abroad. There was no mention of me having to be inside the UK when the change takes place. I am really confused now.

[Chris_B]

@moosaallawati  Very sure.   you’re not the first  person who’s done this and then end up with no service when it switches over.  

[moosaallawati]

Thanks @Chris_B, I'll need to call 150 again then before it's too late...

[XRaySpeX]

Yes, you should remain on contract for the period of the 30-day notice period before you are moved to PAYG & then won't be able to us use it abroad until you return to UK. So, for now it is not a Q of having a 0 PAYG balance. You should be able to receive calls anyway while remaining on contract.

When you are on PAYG, you will be able to top-up online wherever you are.

[moosaallawati]

Thank you @XRaySpeX + @Chris_B, you were right. I am shocked that despite a lengthy detailed call with EE where I mentioned repeatedly that I am currently abroad and will be so for 6+ months, and the change is happening whilst abroad; they went on to set the change for next month without telling me about this! I am very lucky to have reached out here otherwise I would have become in critical disconnection. Bacause of this, I have decided to get everything sorted this month while my number is still able to receive calls, and once it's swtiched to PAYG, it's gone, yes, I will no longer be with EE then. It's not worth downgrading to cheaper monthly plan if I would need to enable roaming (additional weekly/daily cost) just for the sake of being able to receive incoming calls that may come at unknown times. Once again, thank you. You did me so much better than a very expensive waste of an international call with EE CS.

[XRaySpeX]

---

@moosaallawati wrote:

they went on to set the change for next month without telling me about this! 

---

They had to do this as your are contracted to give 30-days notice of cancellation.

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

[Chris_B]

@moosaallawati  There is one way you could switch to PAYG but you’ll be without a working sim until you receive a active PAYG sim.    

You can change to PAYG then request a replacement sim this sim will be posted to your UK billing address and someone there will need to a active it and at least make a call/text before they post it out to you.    It’s long winded but you’ll retain the number.     You’ll have to wait till it switches over to PAYG / you loose signal on that sim then call customer support and request the replacement sim.   It’s then down to international postage and how long it takes to get to you.