going to the UK

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › going to the UK

beenz

642 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#295372 24-Mar-2022 11:01

Hello

Going to the UK soon and want to know who is the best provider to use to buy a local sim card.

Will be there approx 4 weeks and want mainly data use with some calls and txt.

Not bothered if I have a UK number.

One more thing how can I ensure that I do not incur roaming charges when I am in the UK.

2deg are telling me that if a call diverts to voice mail I pay roaming charges ?

thanks

1 | 2

11428 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2891267 24-Mar-2022 11:08

@beenz If the incoming calls leave NZ and rings your mobile in the UK then returns to NZ to reach your 2d voicemail box yes you are charged, If your 2d number is off then the incoming call will not leave NZ then no charging

When possible use WiFi calling on your 2d SIM then you are not billed

beenz

642 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2891275 24-Mar-2022 11:11

Linux:

@beenz If the incoming calls leave NZ and rings your mobile in the UK then returns to NZ to reach your 2d voicemail box yes you are charged, If your 2d number is off then the incoming call will not leave NZ then no charging

When possible use WiFi calling on your 2d SIM then you are not billed

so just remove the sim card should do the trick ?

Now who is the best carrier in the UK to buy a local sim card from ?

thanks

Linux

11428 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2891276 24-Mar-2022 11:12

https://www.2degrees.nz/help/mobile-help/calling-features/wifi-calling

Scroll down the page ' Using WiFi Calling when you’re overseas '

Linux

11428 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2891277 24-Mar-2022 11:13

beenz:

Linux:

@beenz If the incoming calls leave NZ and rings your mobile in the UK then returns to NZ to reach your 2d voicemail box yes you are charged, If your 2d number is off then the incoming call will not leave NZ then no charging

When possible use WiFi calling on your 2d SIM then you are not billed

so just remove the sim card should do the trick ?

Now who is the best carrier in the UK to buy a local sim card from ?

thanks

How could a SIM card logon to a roaming network if it is not in handset? It can't so how could it get roaming charges?

Just pick any UK carrier check out the websites of EE, VodafoneUK, ETC..............

beenz

642 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2891288 24-Mar-2022 11:40

Hi @Linux and thanks for your input.

I am sorry but not all of us have the same tech savvy knowledge but I appreciate you clarification around the sim card.

Aucklandjafa

398 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2891306 24-Mar-2022 12:08

Best, and cheapest, thing to do if you want to receive incoming calls from NZ is to buy a UK sim, then before you swap out out your 2D sim, buy an international calling pack from 2degrees ($10 for 1 month) then set a call forward on your 2degrees sim to the UK number you just purchased - then you'll have all your incoming calls routed to the UK number at no cost (other than the $10 call pack). Please note that this won't forward any text messages.

andysh

228 posts

Master Geek

#2891308 24-Mar-2022 12:10

EE would have the best network, but Three offers go prepay packages and decent enough. https://www.three.co.uk/payg-data-packs . Should be able to pick up a sim at Heathrow.

Referrals:

Tesla: https://ts.la/andrew897313

Sharesies: https://sharesies.com/r/XRGS77

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

sleepy

334 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2891355 24-Mar-2022 12:12

Hi i always use https://www.giffgaff.com/ have been cheap over many trips

Enjoy

Geekeneer

179 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2891357 24-Mar-2022 12:16

beenz:

Linux:

@beenz If the incoming calls leave NZ and rings your mobile in the UK then returns to NZ to reach your 2d voicemail box yes you are charged, If your 2d number is off then the incoming call will not leave NZ then no charging

When possible use WiFi calling on your 2d SIM then you are not billed

so just remove the sim card should do the trick ?

Now who is the best carrier in the UK to buy a local sim card from ?

thanks

Yup, safest option is to remove the card. Found this out with Vodafone also. Roaming is automatically active, and the moment you touchdown in another country, your mobile may try to connect to the internet, and you're immediately charged roaming fees of $7 a day.

openmedia

3332 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2891371 24-Mar-2022 12:57

sleepy:

Hi i always use https://www.giffgaff.com/ have been cheap over many trips

Enjoy

I used Giff Gaff on my last trip, you just need to watch out for potential coverage issues. You'll find that UK carriers don't have the kind of coverage you might be used to here in NZ.

In the past they'd let you order a SIM in advance, but make sure your plan is in place before you activate mobile data or you might find you don't have enough credit for the plan you want.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

huckster

843 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2891377 24-Mar-2022 13:25

Six months ago, I just wandered into a petrol station and picked the cheapest for my needs - was O2.

If I registered, I was able to claim an extra 50% data and minutes but that required me installing their App. I couldn't do that because my Google account is NZ not UK.....

Yes, I'm sure there are ways around it but was a pain at the time and something to be aware of.... (or of which to be aware)

darkasdes2

428 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2891388 24-Mar-2022 13:42

When I use to live in the UK, i was on vodafone and O2 - both good networks with coverage and have good prepay deals, in saying that, there are plenty of MVNO's in the UK and you can get simcards at a lot of stores.

timmmay

20580 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2891389 24-Mar-2022 13:45

I have a family member off to the UK for a few weeks soon. With Skinny you can pay $20 a week for 1GB of data and some calls / texts. You could move to Skinny then use that if 2degrees doesn't have a competitive offering. We could save maybe $20 dollars getting a UK SIM but it's not worth the bother.