Set up and paid for roaming through app, won’t connect SOS only.

[ChrisE56]

I have same issue. Arrives in Texas, set up and paid for roaming through app, won’t connect SOS only. Called technical services via skype, no fix just wait and see after 24 hours and call again. I’ve been to uk numerous times and never had issue before but this time both my wife and I have same issue. 

any advice out there?

[bristolian · Accepted solution]

Regardless of any billing add-on, your ability to get coverage abroad (which calls, texts & mobile data rely on) is dependent on roaming being activated - which allows your phone to connect to foreign networks.

On PAYG, this is auto-enabled once your phone is used in the UK first.
On pay-monthly, this needs to be enabled manually - usually by texting ROAMING to 150 before leaving the UK. Did you do this?

If you are on pay-monthly and now find yourself abroad without having enabled roaming, your only recourse will be to contact CS to request it activated. You can either contact +44 7953 966150 from another working phone, or +44 800 9566000 using a web-calling app such as Skype over WiFi.

[XRaySpeX]

@ChrisE56 : 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 billing add-on doesn't of itself activate roaming on your a/c. Having roaming activated on your EE a/c, not just on your device, is crucial to using your contract SIM abroad.

Often just rebooting the phone is the simple remedy. Also try selecting a network manually rather than auto.

Otherwise if you are on contract you need to call CS to get your roaming activated. Try calling CS on the Freephone no. in my sig. on Skype over WiFi. It should be free.

[ChrisE56]

Well after two Skype calls to technical support it’s fixed. They eventually took off roaming and reapplied it. Then I took out the SIM card, reinstalled and it all worked! I don’t think technical support really knew what the problem was but they persevered and it’s fixed. Thanks to Chris at technical  support !👍

[Katie_B]

Thanks so much for letting us know @ChrisE56. 

Take care, 

Katie